UK Citizen Julia Fenner Released in Belarus as Part of Diplomatic Deal

Wed Oct 22 2025 14:12:26 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Julia Fenner, a UK-Belarus dual citizen and wife of a British diplomat, has been released from prison in Belarus following a diplomatic agreement involving the United States. This release included 52 political prisoners as a gesture of goodwill.

Julia Fenner, who was sentenced to seven years in prison, was freed as part of a larger diplomatic initiative between the US and Belarus. This deal aims at easing sanctions on Belarus in exchange for the release of political prisoners. Despite this progress, over 1,000 political prisoners remain in Belarusian jails. Fenner's release follows significant interventions by US officials and highlights ongoing tensions between Belarus and the international community.

Julia Fenner, a UK-Belarus dual citizen and wife of a British diplomat, has been freed from prison by Belarus as part of a broader release agreed upon with the US.

Originally sentenced to a lengthy term last month after her detention upon entry into Belarus, Fenner's release marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough. UK Europe Minister Stephen Doughty commented, It is great news that a British national has been brought home.

Her release was part of a deal that included the release of fifty-two prisoners on Thursday, a gesture associated with an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

In exchange for releasing these prisoners, the US has offered to ease certain sanctions on the Belarusian airline, Belavia, permitting it to procure necessary parts for its aircraft.

Doughty expressed gratitude towards the US for its diplomatic efforts that led to this outcome, noting that although this release is a positive step, it highlights the plight of over 1,000 political prisoners still imprisoned in Belarus.

Among the released were various trade union leaders, journalists, and activists. Fenner's case was particularly notable as human rights groups, including Charter 97, argued that she was wrongfully imprisoned under vague charges related to participation in actions against public order.

Lukashenko described this release as a humanitarian gesture during a meeting with a US envoy. However, criticism of the regime remains prevalent, particularly from exiled opposition leaders like Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who thanked the US president for the release but also warned that the situation for many prisoners is dire, stressing that real freedom is still absent in Belarus.

Tikhanovskaya highlighted concerns regarding activist Mikola Statkevich, who refused to leave Belarus, remaining in a precarious situation. His defiance underlines the ongoing struggle against Lukashenko's authoritarian regime, which has seen brutal crackdowns on dissent since 2020.

As international focus shifts back to the Belarusian crisis, recent military exercises with Russia further strain the geopolitical environment in the region, keeping NATO allies on high alert.