Belarus Frees 25 Prisoners in Exchange for US Sanctions Relief

Belarusian authorities have agreed to release 25 prisoners as part of a deal that includes the lifting of U.S. sanctions against some Belarusian companies, U.S. special envoy for Belarus John Coale said.

Coale announced the development Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, stating that President Donald Trump's commitment to direct diplomacy had yielded results. He also expressed gratitude to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Lithuanian authorities for their support.

"We will continue to improve U.S.-Belarus relations and are working to secure the release of more people in the very near future," Coale said. "We are not finished!"

Belarusian state news agency BELTA quoted Coale as saying that significant progress was made during talks on Tuesday, and the U.S. would lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies. The Belarusian authorities have not yet released details about the prisoners.

Lukashenko, who has governed Belarus for over three decades, has faced international sanctions due to human rights crackdowns and for permitting Russia to use Belarusian territory in its invasion of Ukraine. In the past, during Trump's previous term, Lukashenko released hundreds of political prisoners in U.S.-mediated agreements that also led to the lifting of some U.S. sanctions.

Prior to meeting with Coale, Lukashenko had expressed openness to discussing a deal and the prospect of lifting more U.S. sanctions, as well as exporting Belarusian fertilizers to the U.S.

In March, a U.S.-brokered deal resulted in Lukashenko ordering the release of 250 political prisoners, while the U.S. lifted sanctions on two Belarusian state banks, the Finance Ministry, and top potash producers. Another agreement in April facilitated the release of prominent journalist Andrzej Poczobut in a swap with Poland that freed 10 individuals.

Despite these releases, the Viasna human rights center reports that Belarus still holds 887 political prisoners. Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya acknowledged the efforts as a humanitarian mission but emphasized that repression continues and that the focus should be on emptying prisons rather than rehabilitating the current government. She also noted Lukashenko's continued support for Russia's war in Ukraine.