Lawmakers commend and encourage the Administration’s efforts to free political prisoners wrongfully held in Belarus 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) partnered with U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) and Joe Wilson (D-SC-02) in calling on the Trump Administration to continue working to free political prisoners in Belarus, and use caution in future negotiations with the Putin-aligned Lukashenka regime.  

In a letter sent recently, the bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers commended the Trump Administration for working to free political prisoners in Belarus, including several U.S. nationals. The lawmakers also encouraged the Department of State to continue to hold Strategic Dialogue with the Belarusian democratic movement and their exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.  

“We were very encouraged by the June 21, 2025 release of 14 hostages, wrongful detainees, and political prisoners who had been unjustly held in Belarus, followed by the September 11 release of an additional 52 political prisoners and foreign nationals, and the release of 25 prisoners on September 16,” wrote the lawmakers to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “As the Administration continues its engagement with this illegitimate regime, we urge caution to ensure that any progress on the release of political prisoners is not undermined by the government’s continued pattern of arbitrary detention.” 

The lawmakers emphasized the need for sustained vigilance, highlighting that Lukashenka’s concessions could be a tactic to distract from Belarus’ sustained support for Putin’s war in Ukraine: “Negotiations with the Lukashenka regime inevitably contribute to its pursuit of legitimacy in the eyes of the international community. The regime’s practice of releasing certain prisoners while detaining new opposition figures, journalists, and human rights defenders must not be allowed to persist unchecked… At the same time, Belarus continues to facilitate Russia’s unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine, including by enabling drone strikes launched from its territory, and by supporting hybrid warfare tactics such as the orchestration of irregular migration into the European Union. These actions not only perpetuate repression at home but also directly undermines U.S. interests and broader transatlantic security in the region.” 

“While we recognize the Administration’s significant achievements to date, these actions demonstrate the need for sustained vigilance and conditionality in any further engagement with the Lukashenka regime,” the lawmakers continued. “Any released political prisoners should have all pending charges against them dropped. They should not be forced into exile, which is a violation of international law. We also urge the State Department to prioritize the release of those individuals in need of urgent medical care on what is known as the ‘humanitarian list,’ which was prepared by Belarusian human rights organizations.” 

In their letter, the lawmakers urged the State Department to prioritize the release of the following individuals in any future negotiations with the Government of Belarus: Maryia Kalesnikava; Viktar and Eduard Babaryka; Marfa Rabkova; Ales Bialiatski; Valiantsin Stefanovich; Uladzimir Labkovich; Nasta (Anastasia) Loika; Dzyanis Ivashyn; Maksim Znak; and Kaciaryna Andrejeva. 

The Senators’ letter is endorsed by the McCain Institute and Freedom House. 

Senator Welch has advocated for bipartisan cooperation to secure the release of political prisoners in Belarus and around the world. Following high-level bilateral U.S.-Belarus negotiations in June 2025, which led to the release of pro-democracy opposition figures, Senator Welch encouraged the Administration to ensure human rights and the release of political prisoners remain central to any further negotiations. Earlier this year, the Senator led his colleagues in urging Secretary of State Rubio to preserve the staff and programs administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) amid the Department’s proposed reorganization. 

Last Congress, Senator Welch spoke on the Senate floor to highlight the case of Maryia Kalesnikava, a leading member of the Belarusian political opposition calling for free and fair elections in Belarus, who was apprehended in 2020 by officials who attempted to forcibly deport her to Ukraine. Senator Welch also met with political and human rights advocates, including Maryia’s sister, Tatsiana Khomic to discuss ways to help secure the release of Maryia and other political prisoners in Belarus.  

Read and download the full text of the Senators’ letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

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