Germany Offers Refuge to Released Belarusian Political Prisoners Babaryka, Kalesnikava

Belarus freed 123 political prisoners following a deal arranged by the United States, which was tied to the lifting of U.S. sanctions.

Maria Kolesnikova, a key Belarusian opposition figure, shows a sign of love sitting in a bus after being released from detention in Belarus, at the Ukrainian Belorussian border, on Dec. 13, 2025. Press Service Of Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War via AP

Germany has offered refuge to Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava, two prominent Belarusian opposition leaders released from prison following a U.S.-brokered deal with Minsk.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told ARD program “Bericht aus Berlin” on Dec. 14 that Germany would be welcoming the two activists “because we have a strong interest in strengthening this democracy movement, even if it now has to develop further outside of Belarus.”