Amongst the endless tales of war, spying, corruption, and countless other examples of man’s inhumanity to man, it would be impossible for me to pass up a rare opportunity to bring a bit of happy news to my readers. And I couldn’t wait to share this story, rather than save it for my next regular Sunday update on the Russian/Belarusian hostage situation.

Hours after filing yesterday’s post, I was thrilled to read that Belarus’ presumptive president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, had agreed to release 14 political prisoners, including three whose names have lingered on my hostage list for far too long: Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Ihar Karnei (or Karney), and Ihar Losik. And separately, one more from our list — Vladyslav Yesypenko — was also released. It will give me great joy to scratch through all of their names next Sunday.

The others who were freed, whom I have not yet seen identified, include individuals from Belarus, Poland, Latvia, Japan, and Sweden. They were all sent to Lithuania, where they are said to be receiving care and shelter. [Anastasiia Kruope, Human Rights Watch, June 23, 2025.]

Thanks to the government of Lithuania for their invaluable diplomatic and humane assistance!

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Siarhei Tsikhanouski was detained in May 2020 after announcing his intention to run for president against Lukashenko. His wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, ran in her husband’s place following his arrest, but was forced to flee the country under threat of reprisals.

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Ukrainian journalist Yesypenko spent more than four years of a five-year sentence in prison in Russian-occupied Crimea. He was charged with espionage and possession of explosives, which he denied. While imprisoned, he was tortured, including with electric shocks, to force a confession. [Sonya Bandouil, Kyiv Independent, June 22, 2025.]

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Belarusian journalist Ihar Karnei was arrested in 2023 and sentenced to three years in prison on charges of “extremism” — an all-purpose appellation widely used in Russia and Belarus as an excuse to arrest individuals who dare to criticize government officials or policies.

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Ihar Losik is a journalist for RFE/RL’s Belarus Service. He was arrested in June of 2020 and tried on charges including “organization of mass riots” and “incitement to hatred.” Following a five-month closed-door trial, he was convicted on December 14, 2021, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Following denial of his appeal, he was transferred to the Navapolatsk hard labor colony, and added to Belarus’ terrorist watch list in 2022.

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According to Belarusian human rights activists, the Lukashenko regime — which is considered illegitimate by the EU, U.S., Canada and other countries — continues to hold an estimated 1,100 political prisoners of various nationalities. So there remains much work to be done.

But the release of these 15 hostages brings great joy in the knowledge that the U.S. and other governments have not forgotten these victims of repression, and a ray of hope for the future release of each and every one of those still imprisoned.

A huge thank-you to all involved!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
6/23/25