Belarusian Politician Statkevich Returned to Prison After Refusing to Leave

Belarusian opposition figure Nikolai Statkevich, released on September 11 as part of a deal between Minsk and Washington, has been returned to a colony in Hlybokaye after refusing to leave the country, Orda.kz reports, citing Nasha Niva.

The 69-year-old was taken by bus to the Lithuanian border, but in the neutral zone, he broke the door, left the vehicle, and declared he would not leave Belarus. Lithuanian border guards confirmed he reentered Belarus, though his whereabouts remained unknown until his return to prison.

Statkevich, a former military officer and leader of the Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada), was arrested in May 2020 and sentenced in December 2021 to 14 years for organizing mass unrest. He spent the last two and a half years in complete isolation in Hlybokaye, according to The Insider.

His release was part of a broader agreement that freed 52 political prisoners. Following talks between Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. envoy John Coe, Washington lifted sanctions on Belavia, with Lukashenko thanking Donald Trump for “peace efforts” and signaling readiness for a “global deal” with the U.S.