Belarusian opposition politician Mikola Statkevich refused to cross into Lithuania with other freed prisoners after they were pardoned and released at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, a senior official in the exiled opposition party told Reuters.

"This is a real drama because Mikola Statkevich completely refused to leave Belarus, and they are trying to force him out," the official, Franak Viacorka, said.

Webcam footage earlier showed Statkevich sitting in the no-man's zone at the border.

"He tried to go back to Belarus and he was stopped at the border," Viacorka said in a voice message. "This shows how cruel the regime is, because they didn't leave any choice to people to stay or to go."

Relatives, friends and journalists gather near the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius,

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