• Sergei Tsikhanouski, who was imprisoned in 2020 after announcing his candidacy for president, among those released
• 2 Japanese, 3 Polish, 2 Latvians, nationals from Estonia, Sweden, US, among those freed, says presidential spokeswoman

MOSCOW 

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko released 14 prisoners and journalists on Saturday, including 10 foreigners, in an unexpected move reportedly facilitated by Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia.

Sergei Tsikhanouski, who was imprisoned in 2020 after announcing his candidacy for president, is among those released, his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said on Telegram.

She expressed mixed emotions following the release, saying: "It's hard to describe the joy in my heart." She noted, however, that more than 1,100 political prisoners are still detained.

"All must be released," she wrote on X, as she thanked US and European leaders for their continued support.

All of the 14 who were released were transported to neighboring Lithuania.

The releases follow a meeting Saturday between Lukashenko and Kellogg, which lasted for more than six hours.

Commenting on the decision, Belarusian presidential spokeswoman Natallia Eismant said the decision was made "solely for humanitarian reasons in order to reunite the family."

She said two Japanese citizens, three Polish and two Latvians, as well as citizens of Estonia, Sweden and the US, are among those freed.