Belarus to release 25 political prisoners in exchange for US easing sanctions, Trump envoy says
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Belarus is to release 25 political prisoners in exchange for the U.S lifting sanctions against two Belarusian companies, U.S. special envoy John Coale said in a video published by the Belarusian state media outlet Belta on Sept. 16.
The announcement comes the day after Coale arrived in Minsk to negotiate with the Lukashenko regime, and several months after his last visit, in which he also secured the release of prisoners.
"As a gesture of goodwill, Belarus will release 25 people. The U.S., in turn, will lift sanctions from two Belarusian companies" — Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom, Coale said.
Bellesbumprom is a state-owned entity covering the wood and paper industries, and Lakokraska is a paint and varnish manufacturer.
The two entities are sanctioned by Ukraine and the U.S.
It remains unknown which prisoners are set to be released and where they will go. Usually, released prisoners are hosted by EU countries, such as Lithuania or Poland.
Belarusian human rights NGO Viasna estimated that Belarus had 889 political prisoners as of the end of August, with 185 considered particularly vulnerable due to health, age, or the way in which they were being detained.
In March 2026, Coale said a broader deal with Minsk could include sanctions relief and the restoration of diplomatic relations. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko had said the U.S. had proposed a "big deal" with Belarus.
"We would like to realize the goal of normalizing the relationship… the things that normal countries do between themselves," Coale said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent in March.
