Tallinn, Estonia – Belarusian opposition politician Mikola Statkevich, 69, was released from a high-security penal colony on February 19, 2026, after suffering a stroke while imprisoned, his wife, Marina Adamovich, confirmed to the Associated Press.
The release of Statkevich, a prominent critic of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and a former presidential candidate, comes after years of imprisonment stemming from his arrest on May 31, 2020. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of “organizing mass unrest,” a case Amnesty International has described as politically motivated.
While expressing relief at Statkevich’s release, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, condemned the conditions of his detention. “Our relief at Mikalai Statkevich’s release is tempered by our indignation at the profound injustice and personal injury he has suffered during years behind bars serving an unfounded prison sentence, much of it in prolonged isolation,” Struthers stated. “Releasing a prisoner of conscience after he has suffered a stroke is not justice, it is the sign of its profound absence.”
Statkevich’s case has been marked by political maneuvering. In September 2025, he was briefly released as part of a U.S.-brokered deal involving 52 political prisoners. Though, Statkevich refused to be forcibly exiled from Belarus, remaining in the no-man’s land between the Belarusian and Lithuanian borders before being re-arrested and returned to prison, according to the Associated Press.
During his most recent imprisonment, Statkevich reportedly contracted COVID-19 multiple times and endured prolonged periods of isolation. He suffered a stroke on January 21, 2026, leading to his hospitalization and subsequent release. Adamovich reported that her husband is currently recovering and experiencing difficulty speaking.
Amnesty International is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus, including Nasta Loika, Marfa Rabkova, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Vital Chopik. Struthers emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “The Belarusian authorities have committed egregious violations. They must fully comply with their international human rights obligations, and those responsible for violating them must be held to account.”
As of February 20, 2026, the Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna reports that 1,144 individuals are currently considered political prisoners in Belarus, though the organization acknowledges its list may not be exhaustive due to restrictions imposed by the Belarusian authorities on the availability of information.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered Statkevich’s release due to his medical condition following a request from his family, according to his spokeswoman Natalia Eismont.
