On December 15, 2025, Vilnius became the backdrop for a moment that many in the region had long hoped to witness: the meeting of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and recently freed Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. The encounter, held just hours after Bialiatski’s dramatic release from Belarusian prison, wasn’t just a personal reunion—it was a powerful symbol of endurance, hope, and the ongoing fight for democratic freedoms in Belarus.
Bialiatski, a towering figure in the Belarusian opposition and a former political prisoner, was among 123 political detainees pardoned on December 13, 2025. His freedom, as reported by the Lithuanian presidential press service and echoed by outlets across the region, was received with what President Nausėda called “great relief.” In remarks that resonated far beyond Lithuania’s borders, Nausėda told Bialiatski, “Your resilience, moral strength, and unwavering commitment to human dignity—even in the darkest of times—inspire us all.” According to the president’s office, the release marked the end of years of what many have described as unjust imprisonment.
The release of these prisoners, including not only Bialiatski but also prominent opposition figures Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava, was the result of intense international negotiations and mounting pressure on the Belarusian regime. As LRT and other Lithuanian media reported, nine of the freed prisoners traveled to Lithuania, while the rest were released via Ukraine. The move was widely seen as a significant, if partial, victory for human rights advocates and the Belarusian opposition—though the struggle is far from over.
President Nausėda used the occasion to reaffirm Lithuania’s unwavering support for democratic change in Belarus. He stressed that Lithuania would “continue to support US efforts aimed at securing the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.” He also made clear that Lithuania’s stance on the Belarusian regime remains firm: “We also consistently emphasize that the Belarusian regime must end all political repression and refrain from launching new ones, that democratic, free, and fair elections must be held in Belarus, and that any support by the Lukashenka regime for Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine must cease.”
According to LRT, Nausėda accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of attempting to break out of international isolation and evade sanctions through so-called “hybrid attacks,” including the use of weather balloons. The president was blunt: “Lithuania will not give in to blackmail and will continue to support Belarus’s democratic opposition.” He further alleged that these tactics are part of a broader strategy by the Lukashenko regime to gain legitimacy on the world stage, despite ongoing repression at home.
Bialiatski, for his part, wasted no time in calling for broader international engagement. Speaking just hours after his release, he urged the European Union to begin negotiations with Minsk to secure the freedom of those still detained. “The European Union should begin negotiations with Minsk aimed at securing the freedom of those still detained,” Bialiatski said, vowing to continue the fight for democracy in Belarus from exile. His determination was unmistakable, even as he acknowledged the personal cost of his activism and imprisonment.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė also played a visible role in the aftermath of the prisoners’ release. On December 15, she spoke by phone with several of the newly freed dissidents, including Maria Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, and Maksim Znak. In a Facebook post, she wrote, “I wished them strength, endurance and courage, and promised to remain in contact and continue supporting their fight for freedom.” Ruginienė’s words underscored the deep personal sacrifices made by these individuals: “These are people who have paid for the idea of freedom with their personal liberty, but have not given up.”
The Lithuanian government’s gratitude extended beyond its own borders. Ruginienė publicly thanked US President Donald Trump, his administration, and special envoy John Coale for their role in negotiating the release. She called the event “a sign of hope for Belarusians who believe justice will ultimately prevail.” But she was quick to remind the world that the fight is not over: more than 1,100 people remain illegally imprisoned in Belarus, according to the Prime Minister.
The release of the 123 political prisoners was not without its geopolitical complexities. Over the weekend, it was announced that Washington intends to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash exports in exchange for the release of political prisoners. However, as Lithuania’s deputy foreign minister Audra Plepytė clarified, US sanctions had not yet been lifted as of December 15, and any changes would not affect existing EU measures. Brussels, at Lithuania’s urging, is reportedly planning to extend its sanctions regime against Minsk.
This delicate balancing act—between rewarding positive steps from the Belarusian regime and maintaining pressure to prevent backsliding—has become a hallmark of Western policy toward Minsk. The US and EU both face the challenge of encouraging further releases and democratic reforms without inadvertently legitimizing Lukashenko’s rule or weakening the international response to his support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Belarus, ruled by Alexander Lukashenko since 1994, remains an outlier in Europe. All opposition movements are banned, and it is the only country on the continent that still applies the death penalty. The regime’s tight grip on power, and its willingness to use both overt and covert tactics against domestic and foreign critics, has long drawn international condemnation. Yet, as the events of December 2025 show, sustained diplomatic engagement and public pressure can yield results—even if only incremental ones.
The release of Bialiatski and his fellow prisoners has energized the Belarusian opposition in exile and their supporters across Europe. For Lithuania, whose leaders have repeatedly positioned the country as a bastion of democratic values in the region, the events serve as both vindication and a renewed call to action. As Nausėda put it, “Your endurance, moral strength and unbreakable commitment to human dignity—even in the darkest hours—inspire us all.”
As the world watches what comes next, the stakes remain high. The fate of the more than 1,100 still behind bars in Belarus hangs in the balance, as does the broader struggle for democracy in one of Europe’s most repressive states. For now, though, the scenes in Vilnius—of reunions, relief, and renewed resolve—offer a rare moment of hope in a region too often defined by its challenges.
