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Maria Kolesnikova

Maria Kolesnikova

Belarusian opposition leader

Appears in 1 story

Stories

Trump’s Belarus gambit: prisoners out, potash back in

Rule Changes

Released December 2025 after years in detention

A U.S. envoy went to Minsk to talk about prisoners—and walked out with both a promise and a delivery. After John Coale's December 2025 visit with Alexander Lukashenko, Treasury's OFAC published General License 13 on December 15, authorizing transactions with Belaruskali, Belarusian Potash Company, and Agrorozkvit—no expiration date. Belarus responded by freeing 123 political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, the regime's most valuable hostages.

Updated Jan 11