The US Embassy in Lithuania has reported that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has agreed to release 250 political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief, Reuters reports.
The release of political prisoners follows talks with the US and is part of efforts to normalize relations with Washington after years of isolation and sanctions. Lukashenko met with US President Donald Trump’s envoy John Coale during the talks in Minsk.
The freed include bloggers, activists, journalists and protesters. Coale told reporters that he hopes to reach an agreement on the release of the remaining political prisoners by the end of this year. If this is done, the US will lift all sanctions imposed on Belarus after the 2020 crackdown on protests, including on one of the country’s largest export sectors – mineral fertilizers. The US envoy wrote on the X that the outcome of the talks is a significant turning point.
The US reported that it had agreed to lift sanctions imposed on two Belarusian banks
and the country’s Finance Ministry, but made it clear that this did not mean permission to circumvent other sanctions. Coale indicated that Lukashenko could soon visit Washington – this would be a significant step on the Belarusian leader’s possible path to a return to international politics. The Americans also emphasized that Lukashenko had given some good advice on ending the hostilities in Ukraine.
Last September, after talks between Lukashenko and Coale, several dozen political prisoners were released, and another 123 people were released in December. In response, the US lifted sanctions on Belarusian exports of potash, a key component of mineral fertilizers and one of Belarus’ main exports.
A US embassy spokesman said 15 of the released individuals had left for Lithuania, while the rest remained in Belarus.
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called the release of the prisoners a moment of relief and hope, and thanked Trump and Coale for their efforts.
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