Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 15 prisoners, including those convicted of "extremist" offenses, according to state media. The releases come amid ongoing negotiations between the US and Belarus over the potential removal of sanctions in exchange for freeing political prisoners.
The prisoner releases and ongoing negotiations signal potential shifts in US-Belarus relations and could lead to the easing of international sanctions on Belarus, impacting its economy and geopolitical standing.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 15 prisoners, state news agency Belta reported on Thursday. The individuals were serving sentences for "extremist" offenses, a charge frequently used against political opponents, and three others convicted of unspecified crimes were also freed. The releases are part of ongoing negotiations between the United States and Belarus, which have been discussing the potential removal of US sanctions in return for the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition figures, activists, and journalists. President Donald Trump's envoy John Coale met with Lukashenko last week. Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the releases but noted that over 1,100 political prisoners remain incarcerated.
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