Swedish Citizen Halina Krasnjanskaja Released from Belarusian Prison and Returns Home

Halina Krasnjanskaja, a 68-year-old Swedish citizen, has landed at Arlanda Airport after being released from a Belarusian prison.

"Thank you, thank you," she said.

Krasnjanskaja was arrested in Belarus in 2023 and sentenced last year to five years in prison. She was released on Saturday as one of 14 political prisoners, including several foreign nationals, freed by the regime.

After her release, Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for his assistance in bringing Halina home.

"This highlights the importance of U.S. engagement in our region. Pressure on Belarus must continue until all political prisoners are free," the Prime Minister wrote on X.

Halina: "A Great Job"

On Sunday, Halina was flown to Sweden, landing at Arlanda shortly after 6 PM.

Happy to be home, she expressed her gratitude, laughed, and embraced those who gathered to welcome her.

"Thank you, thank you," Halina said, continuing:

"Just thank you so much. Sweden, the Swedish government, the embassy in Belarus, and the Americans – they have done a great job."

"Already Celebrating"

Dmitri Vasserman, from the Belarusian People's Embassy in Sweden, was among those who met Halina at Arlanda. When asked how they would celebrate her return, he said:

"We are already celebrating – that's why we are here. I don't think we will celebrate anything ourselves. But we will certainly celebrate Halina in the long run."

He described the prison where Halina was held as a "torture prison." The coming period will focus on healing, he believes.

"It feels fantastic that she has finally come home. In her case, she has truly returned to Sweden. This is something we cannot say about all the other prisoners who were released. They are said to be freed, but in reality, it is forced deportation. They were deported from Belarus and cannot return home. They were forced out of the country."