Mikola Statkevitj, a Belarusian opposition politician, has been released from prison after suffering a stroke, according to his wife, Marina Adamovitj. His release comes after he had previously been incarcerated multiple times by the Belarusian regime and had been in discussions involving potential diplomatic negotiations by the U.S. regarding political prisoners in Belarus. Statkevitj, who is 69 years old, had refused to leave Belarus when he was facing deportation, indicating his commitment to the political struggle in the country.

Following his release, his wife noted that he is recovering but currently facing issues with speech, though she expressed optimism about his health. The situation reflects the ongoing crisis of political repression in Belarus, where many opposition figures have been jailed under the regime of Alexander Lukashenko. This highlights the perilous environment for dissenters in the country, as more than 1,000 political prisoners remain behind bars according to human rights group Viasna.