US envoy meets Belarus’ leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka to push for political prisoner releases

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US envoy John Coale met Belarus leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka in Minsk on Thursday, as Washington pushes for the release of hundreds of political prisoners in the Russia-allied country.

The authoritarian state has released dozens of prisoners in recent months, largely due to US efforts.

President Donald Trump has sought a rapprochement with Minsk since taking office last year, easing sanctions on the country and welcoming it to his “Board of Peace.”

There are more than 1,100 political prisoners in Belarusian jails, many arrested after a disputed 2020 election that triggered widespread protests, according to the Viasna human rights centre.

Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka and US envoy John Coale shake hands during their meeting in Minsk, 12 December, 2025

Among the highest-profile releases in recent months were Belarusian street protest leader Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, as well as dissident activist Mikola Statkevich.

Belarusian state media published a video showing Lukashenka greeting and embracing Coale in a government building in Minsk on Thursday.

“We are discussing our bilateral relations, ranging from the resumption of normal embassy operations to the release of so-called political prisoners. Although we do not have such a designation,” Lukashenka was quoted as saying by Belarusian state media ahead of the meeting.

Last September, Belarus released dozens of political prisoners in a US deal, in exchange for the easing of some sanctions.