BRUSSELS, Belgium, Dec 13, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - EU chief Ursula von der Leyen welcomed Saturday the release of Belarusian protest leader Maria Kolesnikova, Nobel Prize winner Ales Bialiatski and 121 other political prisoners by authorities in Minsk.

"This development must strengthen our resolve. The resolve to keep fighting for all remaining prisoners behind bars in Belarus because they had the courage to speak truth to power," the European Commission President wrote on X.

"The fight for human rights and justice in Belarus must continue. Until the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people are fulfilled."