Please Follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble,Truth Social, Gettr, X , Youtube
Belarus released 250 political prisoners on Thursday in what authorities described as the largest single release in years, following high-level negotiations with the United States. In exchange, Washington agreed to lift sanctions on several Belarusian entities, including state banks, the Finance Ministry, and major potash producers.
The move came shortly after U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale met with President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. Coale described the release as “a significant humanitarian milestone and a testament to the President’s commitment to direct, hard-nosed diplomacy.” He posted on X that “Freedom is our goal” and expressed gratitude to Lithuanian partners for their role in facilitating the process, noting that some of the freed individuals were transferred across the border to Lithuania.
Among those released were prominent human rights activists, including Valentin Stefanovich, Marfa Rabkova, and Anastasiya Loika, according to the Belarusian human rights group Viasna. The releases build on earlier efforts, with dozens of prisoners freed in recent months amid U.S. diplomatic pressure, reported The Moscow Times.
President Donald Trump has pursued warmer relations with Belarus—a key Russian ally—since returning to office, including easing sanctions and referring to Lukashenko as a “good friend” and respected leader. Coale suggested that Lukashenko could potentially visit the United States, signaling further possible normalization.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, speaking from exile, thanked Trump for efforts she said were “saving lives” while urging the release of hundreds of remaining political prisoners. Human rights organizations note that many detainees were arrested following the disputed 2020 presidential election, which sparked massive protests and led to widespread international condemnation and sanctions.
Belarus, often called Europe’s last dictatorship under Lukashenko’s rule since 1994, faced heavy Western penalties for its crackdown on dissent and for supporting Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The latest deal reflects ongoing U.S. attempts to secure further releases, with Coale indicating optimism that all remaining political prisoners could be freed by year’s end in exchange for additional sanctions relief.
This development marks a step in Lukashenko’s efforts to improve ties with the West while maintaining close alignment with Moscow.
