Belarus has released 25 prisoners following talks between the United States and President Alexander Lukashenko’s government. The move came alongside a further easing of US sanctions on Belarus.
US envoy John Coale told Reuters that hundreds more prisoners could leave jail after another round of talks. He expects to return to Belarus in about a month to discuss further releases.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What happened | Belarus released 25 prisoners following talks with the United States. |
| Location | Vilnius, Lithuania, where the released prisoners were taken. |
| Key figure | US envoy John Coale led negotiations with Belarus. |
| Belarusian leader | President Alexander Lukashenko. |
| Further releases | Coale said he hopes hundreds more prisoners could be released after another round of talks. |
| Sanctions | The US eased sanctions on Belarusian companies Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. |
| Human rights concerns | Viasna says Belarus continues to hold hundreds of political prisoners. |
Belarus Releases 25 Prisoners
The latest release followed negotiations between Coale and Lukashenko. The talks have continued for more than a year.
Coale said the process had produced positive results and that US President Donald Trump was pleased with the progress.
The 25 released prisoners included people who had received lengthy prison sentences. Among them was Liudmila Chekina, the former head of online news outlet TUT.BY.
Belarus banned TUT.BY in 2021. Chekina had been serving a 12 year sentence.
After her release, Chekina described the experience of imprisonment as extremely difficult. She also spoke about missing important moments in her family’s life.
Journalist Andrei Alyaksandrau also regained his freedom. He had been serving a 14 year sentence. His wife, Iryna Zlobina, was also released after serving a nine year sentence.
More Prisoners Could Be Released
The latest group was smaller than the number discussed during Coale’s previous visit to Minsk in March.
Coale said he had negotiated the release of 250 prisoners during that visit. However, only 25 people left the country in the latest release.
He told Reuters that he plans to return in roughly one month. He hopes hundreds of prisoners could be released during the next stage of the talks.
A source familiar with the negotiations also told Reuters that more prisoners could be released while remaining inside Belarus.
US Eases Sanctions on Belarusian Companies
The United States also announced sanctions relief for two Belarusian companies.
One is Lakokraska, a producer of paints and industrial coatings. The other is Bellesbumprom, a state owned company linked to Belarus’s forestry, pulp and paper industries.
Human Rights Concerns Remain
Human rights groups continue to raise concerns about political repression in Belarus.
Viasna, a Belarusian human rights organisation, says the country still holds hundreds of political prisoners. It reported that many of those released had served long prison terms.
Lukashenko rejects the political prisoner label. He also denies accusations that authorities arrest new people as others leave prison.
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has criticised the negotiations. She argues that Lukashenko uses prisoner releases as part of his dealings with foreign governments.
Coale Plans New Belarus Prisoner Talks
Coale expects to return to Belarus in about a month. He said he would try to secure the release of hundreds more prisoners.
The talks remain sensitive because Lukashenko has governed Belarus since 1994 and maintains close ties with Russia.
Belarus has freed 25 prisoners following negotiations with US envoy John Coale. The United States has also eased sanctions on two Belarusian companies.
Coale says he hopes hundreds more prisoners will gain their freedom during the next stage of talks.
