Belarus Frees 25 Prisoners in Deal for US Sanctions Relief

Belarus has released 25 political prisoners as part of an interim deal with the United States, which in return will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies. The agreement was announced by U.S. special envoy John Coale following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. Coale stated that as a gesture of goodwill, Belarus freed the prisoners, and the U.S. will remove sanctions on paint manufacturer Lakokraska and state-owned forestry concern Bellesbumprom. The released individuals, including journalists, lawyers, and activists, have arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania. Among them are journalist Andrei Aleksandrau and activist Iryna Zlobina, who married while in detention, as well as Lyudmila Chekina, the former director-general of the shuttered news portal Tut.by. The deal is described as an interim step in ongoing negotiations. Coale emphasized that efforts to secure the release of more political prisoners will continue. "We are not finished!" he wrote on social media, adding that work is underway for more releases in the very near future. The prisoner release is part of a broader diplomatic engagement.