Germany to Accept Released Belarusian Opposition Leaders Maria Kolesnikowa and Viktor Babariko

Germany has announced it will accept two prominent Belarusian opposition figures, Maria Kolesnikowa and Viktor Babariko, following their release from prison. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described them as "two of the outstanding personalities" of Belarus's democracy movement and reaffirmed Germany's commitment to supporting this cause from abroad.

The pair were freed as part of a deal brokered with the United States, under which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko released 123 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bjaljazki. Most of the released were initially sent to Ukraine, with Kolesnikowa among them. She has expressed her intention to leave Ukraine and live elsewhere in Europe, citing family connections. Meanwhile, Babariko, a former banker and presidential candidate arrested in 2020 on corruption charges, has not announced relocation plans.

Kolesnikowa was a central leader in the massive protests sparked by Belarus’s disputed 2020 presidential election, during which she chose not to go into exile but was imprisoned for eleven years. Babariko was also sentenced to 14 years following his arrest prior to the election. Their release and acceptance by Germany mark a significant moment of support for Belarusian democratic activists from an important European ally.

Dobrindt emphasized Germany's strong interest in aiding the democracy movement from abroad, highlighting the political significance of accepting these opposition figures during an ongoing struggle against Lukashenko's regime.