Lukashenko frees 25 prisoners as US eases sanctions on Belarus
dpamoscowBelarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has released 25 prisoners in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions on two Belarusian companies, US negotiator John Coale annou...
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has released 25 prisoners, according to US negotiator John Coale, who announced the news following discussions in Minsk. The release came as part of the US easing sanctions on two Belarusian companies, Bellesbumprom and Lakokraska, stated Coale on X. Coale expressed gratitude to Lukashenko for the prisoner releases, emphasizing that the US would continue to enhance US-Belarus relations and work towards freeing more individuals in the near future.
Coale added that the US would not be finished with this effort. President Trump had previously thanked Lukashenko for his commitment to direct diplomacy, which had resulted in the lifting of sanctions against Belaruskali, a major fertilizer producer. Human rights activists in Belarus have estimated that there could be around 1,400 political prisoners in the country.
President Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2022, Lukashenko allowed Belarus to be used as a staging ground for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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