Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 22, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBelarusian opposition leaders Kalesnikava and Babaryka delay their public appearance in Berlin to recover after their release from prison as part of a U.S. sanctions deal.
BERLIN, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Belarusian opposition leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka, freed this month after five years in prison, said they need more time to recover before speaking publicly.
The pair, prominent figures in the movement that challenged President Alexander Lukashenko in a disputed 2020 election, were released on December 13 as part of a deal under which the U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash in exchange for their freedom.
They had been expected to give a news conference in Berlin on Tuesday.
"Maria and Viktar need some time to recover and to reconnect with their loved ones," Kalesnikava's sister Tatsiana Khomich told Reuters. "After the New Year, we will get back with a format that will allow for the broadest possible participation."
The two were imprisoned on what Western observers said were trumped-up political charges. Human rights activists said they had been subjected to degrading treatment and undergone serious health emergencies during their time in detention.
Last week Germany announced that it would grant residency to the pair, part of a policy of allowing prominent prisoners of conscience residence on their release.
(Reporting by Thomas EscrittEditing by Ros Russell)
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They include the right to life, freedom of speech, and the right to education.
A news conference is a media event in which newsmakers invite journalists to hear them speak and ask questions. It is often used to announce important information or respond to public interest.
Residency refers to the status of living in a particular place, often associated with legal permission to reside in a country. It can provide individuals with certain rights and benefits.
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