U.S. Seeks Release of Belarusian Funds as Trump Envoy Meets Lukashenko in Minsk
Alexander Lukashenko said last week that up to $44 million belonging to Belarus was “stuck at Citibank” and called for its return.
U.S. officials have requested Citibank to release $43-44 million in frozen Belarusian funds held by the bank. U.S. presidential envoy John Coale met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on September 15 to discuss the issue. Lukashenko called the freeze "a disgrace for the United States," stating it is inconsistent with the money provided by a company that had previously worked with Belarus.
Despite previous meetings leading to the release of political prisoners, including Viktor Babaryko, Maria Kolesnikova, and Siarhei Tsikhanouski, hundreds of detainees remain. Lukashenko accused Belarusian émigrés of exaggerating the situation in the West, claiming they convinced the U.S. to believe that while some prisoners were released, twice as many were detained as part of ongoing repression.
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