Ukraine confirmed this Saturday that, of the 123 people pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, including political prisoners, 114 will be received in the country, among them the main opposition leaders who were imprisoned, Maria Kolesnikova and Viktor Babariko.

“Today, at the behest of the President of Ukraine, an operation was carried out to repatriate 114 civilians who were being held in the territory of the Republic of Belarus,” the Coordination Center for Prisoners of War of Ukraine stated on its Telegram channel.

Among those released and brought back to Ukraine are five Ukrainians who were imprisoned on espionage charges, as well as Belarusian public and political figures such as Kolesnikova, Babariko, and journalist Marina Zolotova, among others.

Joint Effort

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Kirill Budanov, had briefed him on the details of the special operation to free civilians held in Belarus.

“Thanks to the active role of the United States and the cooperation between our intelligence services, nearly one hundred people are now regaining their freedom, including five citizens “Ukrainians,” he noted on his Telegram account.

The release came after consultations held in Minsk over the past two days between Lukashenko and White House envoy John Cole.

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