52 Belarusian Dissidents Sent Into Exile After Trump Appeal — Critics Call It Forced Deportation

Belarus released 52 prisoners to Lithuania after an appeal by U.S. President Donald Trump; while several expressed gratitude for being freed, others said they would have preferred to remain in Belarus and felt forced into exile. Exiled opposition figures say many were near the end of their sentences and lacked passports or contact with family. One prominent dissident refused to cross into Lithuania and returned to Belarus, raising fears of rearrest. The clustered reporting suggests Minsk may be using pardons tied to diplomatic engagement to expel opponents rather than restore their rights.