Lukashenko presses US envoy for sanctions relief as Minsk denies holding political prisoners

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with the United States' special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, on Tuesday to press for the removal of the remaining American sanctions on his country, arguing that the two sides had already reached "quite a few agreements" on economic cooperation.

During the talks, Lukashenko asked Washington to help release Belarusian assets he said were "stuck in Citibank," and expressed interest in exporting Belarusian fertilizers to the US market. Ahead of the meeting, he said he was open to discussing "a deal big or small."

Since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, Lukashenko has freed hundreds of political prisoners under a series of US-mediated arrangements that also brought the lifting of some American sanctions. A deal brokered with Washington's help in March led to the release of 250 political prisoners, while the US agreed to lift sanctions on two Belarusian state banks, the country's Finance Ministry and its top potash producers. A separate swap with Poland in April secured the release of prominent journalist Andrzej Poczobut among 10 people freed.

Lukashenko has ruled the country of 9.5 million for more than three decades, and Western nations have repeatedly sanctioned Belarus over its human rights record and its decision to let Moscow use its territory for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His rule was challenged after a 2020 presidential election that sparked mass protests over allegations of rigging; the ensuing crackdown saw tens of thousands detained, many beaten by police, and prominent opposition figures jailed or driven into exile. He won a seventh term last year in a vote the opposition dismissed as a farce.

At Tuesday's meeting, Lukashenko denied that Belarus holds any political prisoners, saying there was no need to persecute anyone for political reasons and rejecting claims that new detentions accompany each release as "absolutely untrue." The Viasna human rights center says 912 political prisoners remain behind bars, including 20 journalists. Viasna lawyer Pavel Sapelka described a "revolving door" policy in which new prisoners are constantly jailed, adding that Lukashenko treats detainees as commodities to be traded for sanctions relief.

The Belarusian opposition has welcomed Coale's efforts as an important humanitarian mission while stressing that the government continues to jail political prisoners. A United Nations group of experts said in a report released Tuesday that Belarusian authorities use the criminal justice system as an instrument of repression, systematically targeting government opponents. "The international community must not look away," expert Susan Bazilli said, warning that impunity is not a permanent shield.

Analysts say the contacts with Washington give Lukashenko a chance to ease his international isolation. Political analyst Valery Karbalevich said the engagement could allow him to reduce his dependence on the Kremlin, return to the international stage and seek relief from European Union sanctions that weigh more heavily on the Belarusian economy.