An interim agreement will see Minsk release 25 political prisoners while Washington lifts sanctions on two Belarusian companies.
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Belarus is releasing 25 prisoners as part of an interim agreement with the United States, which will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies. The deal was confirmed by US special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, following talks in Minsk per LRT English.
The individuals freed are described as political prisoners by the Moscow Times. The agreement follows lengthy negotiations where Washington is pressing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to free hundreds more people, according to the same report.
DW News reports the arrangement is an interim agreement, with plans for broader negotiations between the two nations to follow. The specific companies sanctioned were not named in the initial reports.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, announced the sanctions lift and prisoner release after his talks in Minsk, per LRT English. The Winnipeg Free Press also reported the 25-prisoner figure.
Sources: 1. Winnipeg Free Press: Belarus frees 25 prisoners in exchange for the US lifting some sanctions, envoy says — https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/16/belarus-frees-25-prisoners-in-exchange-for-the-us-lifting-some-sanctions-envoy-says (src1) 2. DW News: Belarus to release 25 more prisoners as US eases sanctions — https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-to-release-25-more-prisoners-as-us-eases-sanctions/a-79290676?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-xml-mrss (src2) 3. CBS News: Alleged discrimination vs. White people prompts new U.S.