ANDREI SANNIKAU (Sannikov in Russian transcription), the Belarusian opposition presidential candidate jailed for five years hard labour on bogus charges in April 2011, has been freed. This report (in Polish) gives some details. Readers may remember the gruesome treatment meted out to the ex-diplomat, including threats that his three-year-old son would be adopted, and multiple instances of physical abuse. Plenty more will be said about this in the days ahead--and it may indicate that Aliaksandr Lukashenka, the country's autocratic leader, is trying once again to cosy up to the West. But for now Mr Sannikau's many friends will be rejoicing that his ordeal has ended.

UPDATE: Here is a brief clip (in Belarusian and Russian) of Mr Sannikau greeting his supporters, with comments from his father-in-law.