The antonyms for the phrase "pays for release of" are pretty clear. The opposite action to paying for release is withholding payment and preventing release. The antonyms for "pays" could be any verb that indicates a refusal to pay or release, such as denies, rejects, declines, or resists. In certain cases, there may be legal or ethical reasons for withholding payment or preventing release, such as when dealing with ransom demands or hostage situations. However, in most cases, paying for release is the standard practice, whether it's for a product, a service, or a person's freedom.