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Radio Free Europe Journalist Ihar Losik Freed After More Than Five Years in Belarus Prison
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On September 11, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Ihar Losik was released “after more than five years of unjust imprisonment in Belarus,” confirmed the media corporation.
“We are incredibly grateful to President Donald Trump for securing the release of another courageous Radio Free Europe journalist, unjustly imprisoned by the Belarusian authorities. We also thank Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Deputy Special Envoy John Cole, the government of Lithuania, and the press freedom community for their ongoing support of Radio Free Europe journalists in detention,” said Steven Korn, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
“Ihar has suffered terribly simply for being a journalist working for Radio Free Europe. This painful and utterly unjust chapter in his life, lasting more than five years, has finally come to an end,” Korn added.
After more than five years of unjust imprisonment in Belarus, @RFERL journalist Ihar Losik has been released.
— RFE/RL Pressroom (@RFERLPress) September 11, 2025
“This phase of his [Ihar's] excruciating and wholly unfair ordeal, which stretched beyond five years, is finally over,” said @RFERL President & CEO @SteveCapus. pic.twitter.com/JK1FhqWE4S
According to Radio Free Europe’s Belarusian service, Ihar Losik spent 1,904 days in captivity.
US President Donald Trump, who held a phone conversation last month with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, expressed hope for the release of many of the hundreds of political prisoners in Belarus.
“I believe they will release many of these 1,400 people,” Trump told reporters on September 5, adding that this could happen “very soon.” He did not provide further details.
On August 15, President Trump stated that he had called Lukashenko just hours before his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, who maintains close ties with Lukashenko. Trump had written on social media, referring to Lukashenko as the “honorable president,” and said their conversation focused on the release of political prisoners.
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As of September 2025, Belarus continues to detain a significant number of political prisoners, despite recent releases. The Human Rights Center Viasna reports that over 1,200 individuals remain imprisoned for their political beliefs, including journalists, opposition leaders, and activists.
Previously, the United States has lifted sanctions on Belarusian airline Belavia, according to US Special Representative John Cole, who arrived in Minsk for a visit, Radio Svoboda reported on September 11, citing the announcement, made by Belarusian state media.
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