Belarus Frees 25 Prisoners in Exchange for U.S. Sanctions Relief

Belarus releases 25 prisoners as part of deal to ease U.S. sanctions, amid ongoing tensions with Western powers.

September 16, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Vilnius, Lithuania — Belarus has agreed to release 25 prisoners in exchange for a reduction in U.S. sanctions, according to an envoy for former President Donald Trump, marking another step in a prolonged negotiation process.

The agreement, announced on Wednesday, is part of ongoing discussions that began last year, during which the U.S. has pushed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to free hundreds of detainees, including activists, journalists, and legal professionals, in return for eased economic restrictions.

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John Coale, the U.S. special envoy for Belarus, confirmed the deal in Minsk, stating that the U.S. would lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies—Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom—in exchange for the prisoner releases. The move comes as Lukashenko, a long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, continues to face scrutiny from the West over his treatment of dissenters and support for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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