Mikalay Statkevich, one of Belarus's prominent political prisoners and a former presidential candidate, refused to leave the country after his release.
Modern.az reports that Statkevich, who was on the list of 52 people pardoned at the request of US President Donald Trump, did not go to Lithuania with the other prisoners.
Franak Viačorka, an opposition representative living in exile, stated that the politician “categorically refused” to leave the country, and for this reason, they are trying to forcibly remove him: “This is truly a drama. Mikalay Statkevich turned back from the border and re-entered Belarusian territory.”
Lithuania's LRT public television confirmed the information, citing border guards, and stated that Statkevich left the neutral zone and returned to his country.
It should be recalled that yesterday, Alexander Lukashenka released 52 people. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated that these individuals had crossed the Lithuanian border and thanked the USA, as well as Donald Trump, for their mediation.
Among those released were both Belarusian opposition members and 14 foreign citizens: 6 Lithuanians, 2 Latvians, 2 Poles, 2 Germans, as well as citizens of France and Great Britain. Also among those released is Yelena Romanovskene, head of the marketing department of the “Belarus” sanatorium, who was accused of espionage and sentenced to 6 years in prison in 2024.
