Belarus has released two Roman Catholic priests serving long prison sentences after renewed diplomatic engagement between Minsk and the Vatican, the state news agency Belta announced on Thursday.
President Alexander Lukashenko granted pardons to Fr. Henrykh Akalatovich, 65, and Fr. Andrzej Yukhnevich, in what officials described as a gesture of mercy influenced by “intensified contacts with the Vatican.”
Fr. Akalatovich had been sentenced to 11 years for treason, accused of spying for Poland and the Vatican — allegations he reportedly said were built on “lies, threats, and blackmail.” He was arrested in 2023 shortly after undergoing stomach cancer surgery, according to human rights group Viasna.
Fr. Yukhnevich received a 13–year sentence earlier this year on charges of abusing minors, which he firmly denied. Viasna noted he had previously been detained multiple times, including once for posting a Ukrainian flag on social media.
Belta reported that both men were pardoned as part of ongoing efforts to improve Belarus’ strained relations with Western governments. Since mid–2024, Lukashenko — a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — has released several hundred prisoners amid international pressure linked to human rights abuses and his support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to Belarus tasked with negotiating further prisoner releases.
Human rights monitors say 1,255 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, including 29 clergy and other religious believers.
The Catholic Church in Belarus confirmed the development, crediting it to last month’s visit of Vatican envoy Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, sent by Pope Leo XIV.
“His visit provided a positive impetus for renewed dialogue, the important result of which was the President’s decision — as a sign of mercy and respect for the Pope — to pardon and release two Catholic priests,” the Church said in a statement.
Credit: Reuters
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