Belarusian prisoners released on Thursday in a U.S.-brokered deal with Minsk have expressed frustration at being exiled to Lithuania, saying they would rather have remained in their home country.
Belarus freed 52 detainees, including an EU staff member, following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Washington and Minsk explore closer ties. But many of those released said they were confused and distressed by what they described as forced deportations.
“I wanted to go home, to my home in Belarus. They brought me here,” said Aleksandr Mantsevich, one of the freed prisoners, outside the U.S. embassy in Vilnius.
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Senior opposition figure Franak Viacorka noted that about half of the prisoners were nearing the end of their jail terms. “They were looking forward to getting free soon, and suddenly they find themselves deported, separated from family, without passports, unable to go back,” he said.
Prominent opposition politician Mikola Statkevich refused to enter Lithuania on Thursday and returned to Belarus, raising fears he may be rearrested. His wife, Marina Adamovic, said she has had no contact with him since.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, herself in exile, urged Western governments to pressure President Alexander Lukashenko to allow freed political prisoners to remain in Belarus. “People have the right to stay in their country,” she said.
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Outside the U.S. embassy, former detainees like journalist Iryna Slaunikava and activist Pavel Vinogradov broke down in tears as they described their longing to reunite with loved ones and return home.
“I served almost all of my sentence, with four months remaining. Haven’t I earned the right to live at home?” Slaunikava said.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
