{
  "id": 7784191,
  "title": "Belarus to free 25 political prisoners in exchange for U.S. lifting sanctions on two companies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/belarus-to-free-25-political-prisoners-in-exchange-for-u-s-lifting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T12:14:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/16/belarus-to-free-25-political-prisoners-in-exchange-for-u-s-lifting-sanctions-on-two-companies"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 15, U.S. special envoy for Belarus John Coale arrived in Minsk to discuss the release of political prisoners in exchange for the U.S. lifting sanctions on two Belarusian companies, Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. Coale announced during his talks with President Alexander Lukashenko that the U.S. would release 25 prisoners as a \"goodwill gesture,\" though he did not specify which individuals would be freed. Coale emphasized their commitment to improving U.S.-Belarus relations and pledged to secure the release of more individuals in the near future, stating, \"We are not finished!\" The U.S. envoy's visit followed a stop in Vilnius, where he met with Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys to discuss similar matters. Coale had previously stated that the U.S. had already secured the release of 500 prisoners in Belarus, while President Lukashenko had pardoned another 200 people.",
  "summary": "The United States will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies — Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom — John Coale, Donald Trump’s special envoy for Belarus, said after talks in Minsk. Pul Pervogo, a Telegram channel close to Alexander Lukashenko, carried his remarks.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Belarus releases 25 political prisoners in exchange for US easing sanctions, Trump envoy says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/belarus-releases-25-political-prisoners-in-exchange-for-us-easing",
        "published": "2026-09-16T09:58:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Moscow Times",
        "title": "Belarus Frees 25 More Political Prisoners in Return for U.S. Sanctions Relief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/belarus-frees-25-more-political-prisoners-in-return-for-u-s-sanctions",
        "published": "2026-09-16T10:58:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Belarus to release 25 more prisoners as US eases sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/belarus-to-release-25-more-prisoners-as-us-eases-sanctions",
        "published": "2026-09-16T12:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Belarus frees 25 prisoners in exchange for the US lifting some sanctions, envoy says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/belarus-frees-25-prisoners-in-exchange-for-the-us-lifting-some",
        "published": "2026-09-16T12:00:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Belarus releases 25 political prisoners in exchange for lifting of US sanctions on two companies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/belarus-releases-25-political-prisoners-in-exchange-for-lifting-of-us",
        "published": "2026-09-16T12:28:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Belarus agrees to release 25 prisoners in exchange for US lifting sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/belarus-agrees-to-release-25-prisoners-in-exchange-for-us-lifting",
        "published": "2026-09-16T13:18:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}