Belarus has released 52 political prisoners as part of an agreement between authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. President Donald Trump, reports the BBC.
Those freed include trade union leaders, journalists, and activists, though more than 1,000 political prisoners remain behind bars.
In return, the United States announced it would ease some sanctions on the Belarusian airline Belavia, allowing it to purchase spare parts for its aircraft. Lukashenko described the move as a “humanitarian gesture” following a meeting in Minsk with Trump’s special envoy John Coale.
“The Americans are taking a very constructive stance on the so-called political prisoners. We do not need political prisoners or any other prisoners,” Lukashenko declared.
The release comes just days before joint military exercises between Belarus and Russia, amid growing tensions with Poland and the EU over recent drone and airspace incidents.
Among those freed are philosopher Vladimir Matskevich, journalist Igor Losik, and opposition figure Mikola Statkevich. According to Human Rights Watch, this is part of a broader process that has seen 314 prisoners released since July 2023.
Meanwhile, Washington and Minsk are also discussing the resumption of economic ties, including the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, which was closed in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
