Mikalaï Statkiévitch, a prominent opposition figure in Belarus and a long-time critic of President Alexander Lukashenko, has been released from prison following a stroke. His wife, Marina Adamovitch, announced his return home, stating he is recovering and currently experiencing speech difficulties. Statkiévitch, 69, was last arrested in May 2020 amidst widespread protests against Lukashenko's re-election. He had previously been sentenced to fourteen years and was part of a group of 52 political prisoners released on September 11, 2025, after negotiations with Washington, though he chose to return to prison to serve his sentence. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a Belarusian opposition leader in exile, expressed relief at his freedom. The human rights organization Viasna reports that Belarus still holds over a thousand political prisoners.