Key facts
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 15 prisoners.
- The pardoned individuals were serving sentences for "extremist" offenses.
- Three individuals convicted of other unspecified crimes were also freed.
- The United States has been negotiating with Lukashenko for over a year regarding the release of prisoners in exchange for sanctions relief.
- US President Donald Trump's envoy John Coale met with Lukashenko last week.
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.