The Belarusian government has released political prisoner Nikolai Statkevich for the second time. His release occurred on September 11, 2025, as part of a broader amnesty that included 52 other prisoners.
Statkevich’s wife, Marina Adamovich, confirmed the news, noting that her husband has suffered a stroke and is currently facing speech difficulties.
An opposition figure since the 1990s, Statkevich was a presidential candidate in the 2010 elections, after which he was sentenced to six years in prison for organizing protests. He declined to request a pardon but was released early in 2015 by President Alexander Lukashenko.
In May 2020, shortly before the presidential elections in Belarus, Statkevich was detained in Minsk. In December 2021, he received a 14-year sentence for allegedly organizing mass unrest.
On September 11, Lukashenko announced the release of 52 prisoners, including Statkevich, in a move that has been criticized by many democratic nations.
Additionally, Lukashenko pardoned 14 foreign nationals, among them citizens from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, according to his press service.
In a related development, the United States recently lifted sanctions on the Belarusian state airline Belavia, as stated by Trump representative John Cole during a meeting with Lukashenko.
Nikolai Statkevich has been released from prison again, following a stroke and ongoing health issues. His release is part of a broader amnesty in Belarus amid international scrutiny.