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Belarus Releases 25 Political Prisoners in Exchange for U.S. Sanctions Relief
Confirmed
In Short: The U.S. and Belarus have reached an interim agreement, with the release of 25 political prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief on two Belarusian companies.
Belarus has agreed to release 25 political prisoners in an interim deal with the U.S., according to U.S. envoy John Coale. In return, the U.S. will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies, Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom, which have been in place since 2008. These companies are state-owned and operate in the forestry, woodworking, pulp, and paper industries.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled the country since 1994 and denies holding political prisoners. He has rejected allegations that his government is replacing freed detainees with newly arrested opponents. Despite this, activists have identified 490 new political prisoners in the country during 2025.
The U.S. and Belarus will continue negotiations aimed at resolving outstanding issues, securing further prisoner releases, and removing additional U.S. restrictions. Coale stated that the two sides agreed to an interim deal, with the release of 25 people as a show of goodwill.
What's confirmed
- Belarus has agreed to release 25 political prisoners in an interim deal with the U.S., according to U.S. envoy John Coale. In return, the U.S. will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies, Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom, which have been in place since 2008. These companies are state-owned and operate in the forestry, woodworking, pulp, and paper industries.
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled the country since 1994 and denies holding political prisoners. He has rejected allegations that his government is replacing freed detainees with newly arrested opponents. Despite this, activists have identified 490 new political prisoners in the country during 2025.
- The U.S. and Belarus will continue negotiations aimed at resolving outstanding issues, securing further prisoner releases, and removing additional U.S. restrictions. Coale stated that the two sides agreed to an interim deal, with the release of 25 people as a show of goodwill.
What's still developing
- The commission called on Trump to continue his efforts for the release of the prisoners ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to the U.S. on Sept. 24.
- “President Trump boldly demonstrated to President Xi during their meeting in Beijing earlier this year that the United States stands for religious freedom by calling for the release of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners,” said Asif Mahmood, chair of USCIRF.
- “In releasing Pastor Jin, President Xi showed that he has the power to release FoRB prisoners if he so desires—and indeed he has an obligation to do so under international law,” said Cece Heil, vice chair of USCIRF.
- “The Kyrgyz government regularly violates freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) as laid out in its constitution as well as in international documents such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which it is a signatory,” the report said.
- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged President Donald Trump to push for the release of religious prisoners in China and for the end of religious persecution by the Chinese government.
- She said negotiations should focus on emptying Belarusian prisons rather than rehabilitating Lukashenko’s government internationally.
- Belarus has released 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.