Former political prisoner Mikola Statkevich returns to Belarus after spending several hours in “neutral zone” on border with Lithuania

Former political prisoner Mikola Statkevich, who was freed from a Belarusian jail earlier today on the orders of Alexander Lukashenko, has returned to the country that imprisoned him. Statkevich remained in the “neutral zone” on the border with Lithuania, refusing to enter the European Union, according to a report by the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT.

Gedrius Mišutis, a spokesperson for Lithuania's State Border Guard Service, said several Belarusian soldiers accompanied Statkevich as he made his way back, though he walked on his own.

Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that Statkevich chose to stay in Belarus.

“I can confirm that there is one person who wants to stay. He is currently in the territory of Belarus, he is not in the territory of Lithuania,” Kristina Belikova, spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Kęstutis Budrys, confirmed to the ELTA news agency.

The outlet Reform.news quoted Franak Viacorka, an adviser to opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, as urging journalists to “wait with names” of those released earlier today.

“Friends, let’s wait with [the] names. We are waiting for everyone and will publish the list once they cross the border. There are certain difficulties. Fingers crossed,” he said, likely referring to the situation with Statkevich.

The human rights group Viasna told The Insider that “a man strongly resembling Mikalai Statkevich is indeed sitting in the neutral zone.” He could be seen on surveillance footage.

The independent newspaper Nasha Niva first published a screenshot of CCTV footage from the border showing a man, dressed in prison clothing, believed to be Statkevich. He was pictured from behind. The outlet then released a second image after Statkevich had turned around. This latter image allowed the journalists to identify him.