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19 March, 09:23
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Belarus releases 250 more political prisoner in exchange of easing of US sanctions

Belarus on Thursday released 250 political prisoners in exchange of Washington lifting sanctions on a number of Belarusian companies. The deal is the latest step in President Alexender Lukashenko’s effort to mend ties with the West.

The release of prisoners, the largest deal in years, came hours after the US envoy John Coale met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. US President Donald Trump has sought to build ties with the authoritarian leader Lukashenko who is close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, since taking office for a second term last January. "Today's release of 250 individuals is a significant humanitarian milestone and a testament to the President's commitment to direct, hard-nosed diplomacy," Coale wrote on X. "Freedom is our goal. We extend our deepest gratitude to our Lithuanian partners for their pivotal role in this mission," he went on saying.

In exchange of release of prisoners, the US will lift sanctions from two Belarusian state banks and the country’s Finance Ministry, while the country’s key potash producer has been removed from a sanctions list.

Among the released political prisoners are human rights activists Valentin Stefanovich, Marfa Rabkova and Anastasiya Loika, Belarusian rights group Viasna reported. Belarusian exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya haled the release as “a moment of great relief and hope”. “After years of isolation, people are now free and can finally embrace their loved ones. There is nothing more powerful than seeing someone who endured unjust imprisonment reunited with their family,” Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. She thanked Donald Trump and his team for their “tireless” efforts to secure the release of political countries in the authoritarian country. Hundreds of political prisoners remain in Belarusian jails, many of whom were arrested after a disputed 2020 election that triggered widespread protests.

US officials last met with Lukashenko in December, after which Washington announced that it eased sanctions on Belarus’ potash sector, and 123 political prisoners were released and sent to Lithuania and Ukraine.