Belarus Frees 52 Political Prisoners As US Eases Airline Sanctions

Belarus has released 52 political prisoners, including journalists, opposition leaders, and activists, in a move linked to the United States easing sanctions on Belarus’ state airline Belavia. This prisoner release followed negotiations between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. special envoy John Coale, with U.S. President Donald Trump playing a key role in facilitating the deal. The easing of sanctions permits Belavia to purchase aircraft parts, signaling a potential thaw in relations between Washington and Minsk, despite Belarus’s continued authoritarian crackdown and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While praised as a humanitarian gesture by Lukashenko, the release represents only a fraction of the more than 1,000 political prisoners still detained in Belarus. The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, including joint military exercises between Belarus and Russia and recent drone incursions into Polish airspace. The U.S. and Belarus have also discussed re-establishing diplomatic ties, including reopening the U.S. embassy in Minsk.