Belarus – Release of prisoners including Siarhei Tsikhanousky (June 23, 2025)

France welcomes the announcement of a prisoner release in Belarus that included Siarhei Tsikhanousky as well as other individuals who had been incarcerated for various reasons, thanks to U.S. mediation.

We encourage the Belarusian authorities to continue on this path, to release all political prisoners and to respect the fundamental rights of the Belarusian people, including the freedom of opinion and the freedom of speech. We reiterate our call for an end to the unrelenting repression that has continued for more than four years.

France also reiterates its call for the fair and humane treatment of all prisoners, particularly by allowing prisoners who have been prevented from doing so to communicate with their families, and allowing those who need it to have prompt access to appropriate medication.