Key facts
- The Trump administration has informed the exiled Belarus opposition of a delay in efforts to secure the release of more political prisoners.
- Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya confirmed the U.S. side stated that 'the next releases were postponed for a while.'
- Previous U.S.-led negotiations had resulted in the release of over 400 political prisoners.
- Nearly 870 political prisoners reportedly remain incarcerated in Belarus.
- The U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizer in December as a reward for prisoner releases.
The Trump administration has informed the exiled Belarus opposition of a delay in its efforts to secure the release of more political prisoners from Belarus. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Reuters that the U.S. side indicated that 'the next releases were postponed for a while,' marking the first public acknowledgment of a slowdown in negotiations led by President Donald Trump's envoy John Coale.
These talks have previously persuaded Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to free over 400 prisoners. However, human rights group Viasna reports that nearly 870 individuals, including at least 170 who are particularly vulnerable, remain incarcerated. Tsikhanouskaya expressed concern over the delay but acknowledged it was not the end of the process, referencing upbeat comments from Coale on social media.
The U.S. engagement with Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, represents a significant shift from prior Western policy, which had largely treated him as a pariah. Tsikhanouskaya, considered by Western governments to be the rightful winner of the 2020 election, has welcomed the humanitarian initiative but cautioned against legitimizing the authoritarian ruler. She noted that while Trump's public praise for Lukashenko was uncomfortable, the U.S. approach had been effective in securing releases.
In December, the U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizer as a reward for prisoner releases. However, this has not significantly boosted Lukashenko's revenue due to ongoing EU sanctions, which remain in place until February 2027. A former Belarusian diplomat suggested that Lukashenko's frustration with the U.S.'s inability to persuade European nations to lift their sanctions might be the reason for the delay in prisoner talks.
Coale, appointed by Trump last year, has been leading the negotiations. Despite an expectation in April for more prisoner releases in the following month, this has not yet occurred. The stalling of talks coincides with increased tensions between Lukashenko and the West, including joint nuclear exercises with Russia and continued arrests of critics in Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya stated that Lukashenko was operating a 'revolving door' policy, arresting new critics to maintain his bargaining power.