We express our sincere gratitude to all 75 Nobel Prize laureates whose efforts have drawn the attention of the international community to the issue of releasing political prisoners and helped reach those in positions of decision-making authority. Four open appeals by Nobel laureates on the same issue represent an unprecedented case in global practice.
The voices of Nobel Prize laureates and the world’s leading scholars played a decisive role in moving this issue forward after years of stagnation—first bringing it into the focus of Poland, and now to the attention of the President of the United States.
🗓️ Timeline of Open Appeals:
March 20, 2024 — An open appeal by Nobel Prize laureates to EU leaders calling for concrete measures to secure the release of political prisoners in Belarus.
The first appeal achieved what previously seemed impossible. Poland’s leadership moved beyond expressions of mere “concern” to real action, making it possible to achieve tangible results. As reported by The Washington Post (January 25, 2025), following appeals by Nobel Prize laureates, pressure from the Polish government, and the efforts of Belarusian activists, Lukashenko released 250 political prisoners in recent months.
With the arrival of the new U.S. administration, a new window of opportunity emerged.
February 17, 2025 — An open appeal by Nobel Prize laureates to U.S. President Donald Trump and world leaders demanding the release of political prisoners.
📩 On August 15, 2025, a historic phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to Alexander Lukashenko took place just hours after a letter from the Belarus Democratic Forum was delivered to President Trump. The conversation, conducted from aboard the presidential aircraft, gave the process new momentum.
August 19, 2025 — An open appeal by Nobel Prize laureates was personally delivered to U.S. President Donald Trump and placed under his direct supervision. This ensured that the issue of releasing political prisoners remains under constant, high-level attention.