The International-European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) welcome the release on Thursday of 52 political prisoners on 11 September, including 9 journalists, by the Belarusian authorities. Twenty-seven journalists remain in prison in Belarus. The IFJ and EFJ demand their immediate release.

Belarus freed 52 political prisoners of different nationalities. They have crossed into Lithuania, in what appeared to be the largest release of detainees in years. The release was announced as Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko met in Minsk with John Coale, a representative of US President Donald Trump. In return, the United States announced that they were lifting sanctions on the Belarusian state-run airline Belavia and considering reopening ithe US embassy in Minsk.

Nine Belarusian journalists were among the 52 political prisoners released on Thursday with the United States mediation, according to rights group Viasna: Igor Losik Aleksandrovich, Pavel Mozheiko Ivanovich, Alexander Mantsevich Borisovich, Elena Timoshchuk Petrovna, Irina Slavnikova Aleksandrovna, Larisa Shchiryakova Fedorovna, Pavel Podobed Vasilievich, Vyacheslav Lazarev Dmitrievich, and Evgeniy Merkis Aleksandrovich.

According to the updated figures provided by the IFJ/EFJ affiliate the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), 27 journalists remain behind bars in Belarus, including prominent journalists Andrzej Poczobut, Katsiaryna Andreeva and Andrei Aliaksandrau.

“We are obviously delighted that our colleagues have been released after being unjustly imprisoned on false charges by Lukashenko’s regime,” said EFJ President Maja Sever. “But we cannot be satisfied with this half-measure. Together with BAJ and our Polish affiliates, we demand the immediate release of the 27 journalists who remain imprisoned in Belarus, as well as hundreds of other innocent citizens.”

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The release of nine journalists from Belarusian prisons is a long-awaited moment of relief for them and their families. We welcome this step but demand the immediate and unconditionnal release of our 27 colleagues unjustly behind bars. Belarusians deserve access to independent information. We stand firmly with BAJ, which has done an extraordinarily brave job in continuously holding the government to account.”

Almost 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, according to Viasna.