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Belarus Frees Over One Hundred Prisoners Under Deal with Trump
(MENAFN) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has granted clemency to 123 inmates as part of a landmark agreement with US President Donald Trump, Minsk revealed Saturday, with Washington poised to roll back "illegal sanctions" targeting the nation's fertilizer industry in exchange.
The announcement followed two days of behind-closed-doors negotiations between Lukashenko and Trump's special envoy John Cole. The high-stakes discussions centered on "lifting sanctions" and "freeing prisoners," Cole acknowledged, though he declined to elaborate further.
"We talked about the future, about how to move forward on a path of rapprochement between the United States and Belarus to normalize relations. That's our goal," he told reporters.
The Belarusian presidency confirmed the mass pardon later Saturday. The prisoner release forms part of arrangements between Trump and Lukashenko tied to the "lifting of illegal sanctions against the potassium industry" implemented under the Biden administration, according to the Belarusian president's press service.
"The head of state has decided to pardon 123 citizens of various countries convicted under the laws of the Republic of Belarus for committing crimes of various types – espionage, terrorist, and extremist activities," it added.
While most pardoned individuals are reportedly Belarusian citizens, the released group includes nationals from the US, the UK, Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia, Australia, and Japan. Media outlets indicated that numerous opposition activists imprisoned following the turbulent 2020 presidential election and ensuing widespread civil unrest were among those freed.
One of the highest-profile figures reportedly released under the Belarus-US arrangement is Viktor Babariko, a seasoned opposition leader who was blocked from competing in the 2020 elections and subsequently sentenced to 14 years imprisonment on fraud and corruption charges. His chief of staff, Maria Kolesnikova, also a key member of opposition figurehead Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's team, was reportedly among the pardoned as well.
In recent months, Lukashenko has systematically released prisoners in substantial waves amid ongoing diplomatic reconciliation talks with the US, while Washington has gradually eased certain sanctions on Belarus, including removing restrictions on state flag carrier airline Belavia.
The announcement followed two days of behind-closed-doors negotiations between Lukashenko and Trump's special envoy John Cole. The high-stakes discussions centered on "lifting sanctions" and "freeing prisoners," Cole acknowledged, though he declined to elaborate further.
"We talked about the future, about how to move forward on a path of rapprochement between the United States and Belarus to normalize relations. That's our goal," he told reporters.
The Belarusian presidency confirmed the mass pardon later Saturday. The prisoner release forms part of arrangements between Trump and Lukashenko tied to the "lifting of illegal sanctions against the potassium industry" implemented under the Biden administration, according to the Belarusian president's press service.
"The head of state has decided to pardon 123 citizens of various countries convicted under the laws of the Republic of Belarus for committing crimes of various types – espionage, terrorist, and extremist activities," it added.
While most pardoned individuals are reportedly Belarusian citizens, the released group includes nationals from the US, the UK, Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia, Australia, and Japan. Media outlets indicated that numerous opposition activists imprisoned following the turbulent 2020 presidential election and ensuing widespread civil unrest were among those freed.
One of the highest-profile figures reportedly released under the Belarus-US arrangement is Viktor Babariko, a seasoned opposition leader who was blocked from competing in the 2020 elections and subsequently sentenced to 14 years imprisonment on fraud and corruption charges. His chief of staff, Maria Kolesnikova, also a key member of opposition figurehead Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's team, was reportedly among the pardoned as well.
In recent months, Lukashenko has systematically released prisoners in substantial waves amid ongoing diplomatic reconciliation talks with the US, while Washington has gradually eased certain sanctions on Belarus, including removing restrictions on state flag carrier airline Belavia.
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