A leading Belarusian opposition figure freed from prison by President Alexander Lukashenko said on Sunday his wife would continue to lead the exiled movement, and urged supporters to keep fighting for change and the release of political prisoners.

Key dissendent figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski, longtime radio correspondent Ihar Karnei, and 12 others walked free after authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko met with a top U.S. official in Minsk.

Belarus has freed Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a key dissident figure and the husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, following a rare visit by a senior U.S. official