Belarus to Free 25 Prisoners in Interim Deal as US Lifts Sanctions on Two Firms

Belarus has agreed to release 25 prisoners as a goodwill gesture under an interim arrangement that will see the United States lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Belarus said on Wednesday.

John Coale announced the understanding in Minsk, a day after holding talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has pressed for the removal of the remaining US sanctions on his country.

"We agreed to an interim deal. And as a show of good will Belarus will release 25 people," Coale said. "And in exchange the U.S. will lift sanctions from 2 companies - Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom."

He indicated the arrangement could widen if both sides complete the terms. "When all details are met and agreed upon by both sides there will be further release of individuals and additional sanctions release," Coale said.

Before the meeting, Lukashenko said he was open to discussing "a deal big or small." He also expressed interest in talks on lifting more US sanctions and on exporting Belarusian fertilizers to the United States.

Lukashenko has led the country of 9.5 million for more than three decades, and Western governments have repeatedly sanctioned Belarus over its human rights record and for allowing Moscow to use its territory during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Since Trump returned to the White House for a second term, Lukashenko has released hundreds of political prisoners through a series of US-mediated deals that also eased some American sanctions.

Under a deal brokered with Washington's help in March, Lukashenko ordered the release of 250 political prisoners, while the US agreed to lift sanctions on two Belarusian state banks, the country's Finance Ministry and the top Belarusian potash producers.

A separate deal in April secured the release of prominent journalist Andrzej Poczobut in a swap with Poland that freed 10 people in total.

Lukashenko's rule was challenged after the 2020 presidential election, when hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest a vote they viewed as rigged. The crackdown that followed saw tens of thousands detained, many beaten by police, while prominent opposition figures fled abroad or were imprisoned.