Two Roman Catholic priests who were imprisoned on what human rights officials said were politically related charges were released from prison Thursday following talks with the Vatican, officials said.

The move, which was confirmed by the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Belarus, comes amid speculation about warming relations between Minsk and the West after a phone call between authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and US President Donald Trump in August led to the release of some political prisoners.

The Rev Henrykh Akalatovich was sentenced to 11 years in prison after a treason conviction in 2023. He served two years.

The 65-year-old cleric, who criticized the government in his sermons, was accused of spying for Poland and the Vatican — charges he denied as based on "lies, thr

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