British National Freed in Belarus as Part of US Deal

Sat Sep 13 2025 11:45:24 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Julia Fenner, a UK-Belarus dual citizen and wife of a British diplomat, has been released from a Belarusian prison. Her release is part of a larger agreement involving the US and Belarusian authorities, which also includes the release of over 50 political prisoners.

Julia Fenner, a dual UK-Belarus citizen, has been freed from prison in Belarus following an agreement with US officials. She had been sentenced to seven years for alleged participation in actions violating public order. The release is part of a broader deal involving sanctions relief for Belarusian airline Belavia. UK officials hailed the release as a significant breakthrough, although many political prisoners remain detained in the country.

Julia Fenner, a UK-Belarus dual citizen who is married to a British diplomat, has been released from a Belarusian prison following a broader release agreement with the US. Fenner had been sentenced to a seven-year term after her arrest at the Belarus border in March 2024.

UK Europe Minister Stephen Doughty expressed delight over her release, stating, it is great news that a British national has been brought home. The agreement has led to the release of 52 political prisoners from Belarus, executed as part of negotiations between US President Donald Trump and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

In addition to freeing the prisoners, the US is expected to ease some sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, allowing it to procure necessary aircraft parts. Doughty called the release a significant breakthrough and thanked the US for their diplomatic efforts that secured this outcome.

However, concerns remain about the fate of many political prisoners still in Belarus, as over 1,000 remain incarcerated. Julia Fenner previously worked at the British embassy in Minsk before her detainment and came under scrutiny based on charges linked to her alleged participation in protests.

Belarusian authorities characterized the release as a humanitarian gesture, with Lukashenko stating that they do not require political prisoners, a statement made following meetings with Trump’s envoy in Minsk.

Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has also acknowledged the US's role in facilitating these releases, though she cautioned that the situation is still dire, with many more prisoners left behind.