(Reuters) -Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has freed two Roman Catholic priests convicted of “serious crimes against the state” following diplomatic contacts with the Vatican, state news agency Belta reported on Thursday.

Henrykh Akalatovich, 65, was serving an 11-year sentence for treason after being accused of spying for Poland and the Vatican – charges that he said were based on “lies, threats and blackmail”. He was arrested in 2023, soon after undergoing stomach surgery for cancer, according to human rights group Viasna.

Andrzej Yukhnevich was sentenced earlier this year to 13 years for abusing minors, charges the priest denied. He had previously been detained four times, including for posting a Ukrainian flag on a social media account, Viasna said.

Belta said Lukashenko h

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