Belarus' Lukashenko Frees Prisoners Following Negotiations With US Envoy
Overview of Recent Prisoner Pardons and US-Belarus Negotiations
Background of the Pardons
Sept 24 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 15 prisoners in a decree on Thursday that follows talks last week with an envoy for US President Donald Trump.
Role of US Envoy and Negotiation Efforts
John Coale’s Involvement
Trump's envoy John Coale has been negotiating with Lukashenko for more than a year, so far obtaining the release of hundreds of prisoners including opposition figures, activists, journalists and lawyers, in return for removing some US sanctions.
Current Status of Political Prisoners
Banned human rights group Viasna says 883 political prisoners remain in Belarus, convicted on charges such as extremist activity, incitement to hatred or insulting the president.
Lukashenko’s Position and International Relations
Relationship with Russia and the West
Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has ruled Belarus since 1994. He denies there are any political prisoners in the former Soviet state, but has engaged with the Trump administration in order to get sanctions relief and ease his international isolation.
Details of the Recent Pardons
Lukashenko's office said the 15 newly pardoned people included 10 women, and 13 of them had "committed crimes of an extremist nature". It said the pardons were granted after they asked for clemency and expressed remorse.
Progress and Challenges in the Negotiations
Recent Releases and Negotiation Outcomes
The releases represented further gradual progress towards Coale's stated goal of freeing all the remaining prisoners this year.
During his visit last week, he won the release of 25 people including prominent journalists and activists — far fewer than the 250 who were freed during his previous trip in March.
Obstacles to Further Progress
Sanctions and Economic Demands
Analysts say Lukashenko is taking a tougher line in the talks, frustrated that the removal of some US sanctions — especially on potash, a key export earner for Belarus — has not been matched by the European Union.
Lukashenko has also demanded the release of $43 million to $44 million of frozen Belarusian assets that he says are "stuck" in Citibank, and Coale promised last week to address this. Citi has declined to comment.
(Reporting by Anton Kolodzyazhnyy, writing by Mark Trevelyan, editing by Andrew Heavens)
