Belarus frees 25 more prisoners in return for easing of U.S. sanctions

Belarus has agreed to free 25 prisoners in return for a further easing of U.S. sanctions, an envoy for President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.

The deal was part of lengthy negotiations in which Washington is urging Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to free hundreds of people including human rights campaigners, political activists, journalists and lawyers in exchange for sanctions relief and an easing of his international isolation.

Trump’s envoy, John Coale, told reporters in the Belarusian capital Minsk: “We agreed to an interim deal, and as a show of goodwill Belarus will release 25 people and in exchange the United States will lift sanctions on two companies.”

The figure of 25 was much lower than the 250 that Coale persuaded Lukashenko to release when he last visited Minsk in March.

The American said both sides would work to resolve outstanding issues to pave the way for another prisoner release and the removal of further sanctions.

“We will continue to improve US-Belarus relations and are working to secure the release of more people in the very near future. We are not finished!” he posted later on X.

Belarusian human rights group Viasna said a new round of prisoner pardons had started…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world