Belarus to free 25 prisoners after US envoy visit

Belarus will free 25 political prisoners as the United States lifts sanctions on two of the reclusive country's companies, American envoy John Coale announced Wednesday on his latest visit to Minsk.

Hundreds remain in prison in Moscow-allied Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, suppressed mass protests against his re-election in 2020.

Washington has re-opened dialogue with Minsk and eased some sanctions, with Coale's visits leading to several rounds of prisoner releases since Donald Trump returned to the White House.

"As a sign of goodwill, Belarus will release 25 people," Coale said in the presidential palace in Minsk in a video released by Lukashenko's office.

"And in exchange, the United States will remove sanctions on two companies," he added.

Coale said there would be "a further release of individuals and additional sanctions relief" after more talks.

Belarus named the companies as paint manufacturer Lakokraska and forestry sector group Bellesbumprom.

Western countries squeezed Belarus with sanctions for its repression in 2020 and imposed more restrictions in 2022 after Minsk allowed Moscow to invade Ukraine through its territory.

The independent Viasna rights group, which monitors arrests in Belarus, says there are currently 912 political prisoners in the country.

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Among them are ordinary people who backed the protests -- as well as journalists, trade-unionists and figures associated with the political opposition.

Rights groups and activists warn that while the regime is releasing some, it is also arresting and imprisoning others.

Last week, a Belarusian court jailed a lawyer, Dmitry Layevsky, for three years. He had stayed in Belarus and had represented opposition figure Viktor Babaryko -- who was freed last year but whose son remains in prison.

Trump's administration restarted contact with Minsk last year in a move that came as Washington tries to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine.