Belarus frees prisoners after US envoy visit

Key facts

• Belarus has begun releasing political prisoners following talks between President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. envoy John Coale.
• An interim agreement was reached where Belarus would release 25 people and the U.S. would lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies.
• Human rights group Viasna said relatives were told to collect prisoners on Wednesday morning.
• Belarus still holds more than 900 political prisoners, according to Viasna.
• Lukashenko denied that those detained were political prisoners.

Belarus has initiated a new round of pardons for political prisoners following discussions between President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. envoy John Coale, as reported by the human rights group Viasna. The U.S. and Belarus have been engaged in talks since last year, with the U.S. easing sanctions on Belarus in exchange for prisoner releases.

According to Belarusian state news agency Belta, Coale stated that an interim agreement had been reached, which includes the release of 25 individuals from Belarus and the lifting of U.S. sanctions on two Belarusian companies. Relatives of some prisoners have been informed that they can collect their loved ones from penal colonies on Wednesday morning.

Viasna, an organization banned in Belarus, estimates that the country still holds over 900 political prisoners, even after hundreds have been released since mid-last year due to negotiations involving Coale. Common charges against these prisoners include "extremist" activity, conspiracy to seize power, incitement to hatred, and insulting the president.

During his meeting with Coale, Lukashenko reportedly denied that the detained individuals were political prisoners and rejected claims from rights groups and the exiled opposition that he was systematically arresting more people to replace those released.