Alexander Lukashenko. Photo: Collected

MOSCOW, Nov 22, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Belarus, a close Russian ally, pardoned 31 
Ukrainian citizens, state TV said on Saturday, as part of an agreement 
between President Alexander Lukashenko and US counterpart Donald Trump.

Trump has pushed Belarus to free political prisoners in contacts with 
Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994 and stamped out free media and political 
opposition.

In exchange, Washington has partly lifted sanctions on Belarus's state 
carrier Belavia, allowing it to service and buy parts for its fleet, which 
includes Boeing aircraft.

"The president has pardoned 31 Ukrainian citizens who committed criminal 
offences on the territory of our country," Lukashenko's spokeswoman Natalia 
Eismont told state TV.

The pardon, which was requested by Ukraine, was a result of "the agreements 
reached between US President Donald Trump and President of the Republic of 
Belarus Alexander Lukashenko," she said.

The move was aimed at "creating conditions for the settlement of the armed 
conflict in the neighbouring state," the spokeswoman added, referring to the 
war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainians, who were not identified, are being handed over to Kyiv "right 
now," according to Eismont.

Belarus has typically charged people who oppose or criticise the government 
with "extremism", meting out years-long prison sentences. It was not 
immediately clear what the freed Ukrainians had been charged with.

Earlier, Lukashenko had freed dozens of political prisoners, including 
prominent dissidents, journalists and clerics.

There were more than 1,000 political prisoners still remaining in Belarusian 
prisons, according to rights groups.