Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with U.S. special envoy John Coale on Tuesday, seeking the removal of remaining U.S. sanctions against his country and emphasizing progress in economic relations.
During the meeting, Lukashenko stated that "we have reached quite a few agreements related to our economic ties" and urged Washington to facilitate the release of Belarusian assets held at Citibank. He also expressed openness to discussing a "deal big or small" and the potential for exporting Belarusian fertilizers to the U.S.
This engagement follows a series of U.S.-mediated deals that have led to the release of political prisoners and the partial lifting of sanctions. In March, Lukashenko released 250 political prisoners as part of an agreement that saw sanctions lifted from two Belarusian state banks, the country's Finance Ministry, and major potash producers. Another deal in April resulted in the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut and nine others in a swap with Poland.
Lukashenko has led Belarus for over three decades, facing international sanctions due to his government's human rights record and its support for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Widespread protests against a disputed 2020 presidential election were met with a severe crackdown, leading to mass detentions and the imprisonment or exile of opposition figures. Lukashenko secured a seventh term in the 2023 election, which the opposition deemed illegitimate.
While the Belarusian opposition has acknowledged Coale's efforts as a significant humanitarian initiative, they maintain that repression continues and Lukashenko's government still holds numerous political prisoners. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a Belarusian opposition leader in exile, thanked the U.S. for prioritizing political prisoners but cautioned that "repression continues" and Lukashenko "continues supporting Russia’s war." She stressed that the goal should be to "empty the prisons, not to rehabilitate the dictatorship."
The Viasna human rights center reports that 912 political prisoners remain in Belarus, including 20 journalists. Pavel Sapelka, a lawyer with Viasna, described Lukashenko's approach to political prisoners as a "revolving door" policy, where individuals are detained to be traded for sanctions relief, while the regime's repressive nature remains unaltered.
Conversely, Lukashenko has denied the existence of political prisoners, stating that "there is no need for us to persecute anyone for political reasons today." He refuted claims that Belarus detains twice as many people as it releases, calling such narratives "absolutely untrue."
Analysts suggest that engagement with the U.S. offers Lukashenko a pathway to reduce his reliance on Russia and re-engage with the international community, potentially easing sanctions imposed by the European Union, which have significantly impacted the Belarusian economy.
A recent report from a U.N. group of experts highlighted the systematic use of Belarus's criminal justice system for repression against government opponents. Expert Susan Bazilli urged the international community not to overlook these violations and to hold those responsible accountable.