US Lifts Sanctions on Belarus National Air Carrier, Belavia
Washington has lifted sanctions on Belarus national air carrier, Belavia, following the release of prisoners and improved diplomatic relations.
VILNIUS: An envoy of US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Washington has lifted sanctions on Belarus national air carrier, Belavia.
John Coale, Trump’s deputy Ukraine envoy, made the announcement at a meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, the Belarusian capital.
Video of the announcement was posted by Belarusian state media as it became public that the country had freed dozens of prisoners.
The meeting took place almost a month after Trump spoke to Lukashenko about releasing imprisoned dissidents.
Earlier on Thursday, Belarus freed 52 prisoners who crossed into Lithuania, according to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
Among those released were 14 foreigners — six Lithuanians, two Latvians, two Poles, two Germans, one French national, and one UK national — according to the Belarusian presidency’s press service.
In June, Belarus freed Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a key dissident figure and the husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and 13 others following a rare visit by a senior envoy from the Trump administration.
Last month, US President Donald Trump spoke to Belarus’ authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, about the release of more prisoners.
Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for over three decades, relentlessly cracking down on the opposition and independent media.
The move to lift sanctions comes after Lukashenko extended his rule for a seventh term following a January 2025 election that the opposition called a farce.
Since July 2024, he has pardoned nearly 300 people, including imprisoned US citizens, seeking to mend ties with the West.
Almost 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, according to human rights group Viasna.
John Coale, Trump’s deputy Ukraine envoy, made the announcement at a meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, the Belarusian capital.
Video of the announcement was posted by Belarusian state media as it became public that the country had freed dozens of prisoners.
The meeting took place almost a month after Trump spoke to Lukashenko about releasing imprisoned dissidents.
Earlier on Thursday, Belarus freed 52 prisoners who crossed into Lithuania, according to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
Among those released were 14 foreigners — six Lithuanians, two Latvians, two Poles, two Germans, one French national, and one UK national — according to the Belarusian presidency’s press service.
In June, Belarus freed Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a key dissident figure and the husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and 13 others following a rare visit by a senior envoy from the Trump administration.
Last month, US President Donald Trump spoke to Belarus’ authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, about the release of more prisoners.
Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for over three decades, relentlessly cracking down on the opposition and independent media.
The move to lift sanctions comes after Lukashenko extended his rule for a seventh term following a January 2025 election that the opposition called a farce.
Since July 2024, he has pardoned nearly 300 people, including imprisoned US citizens, seeking to mend ties with the West.
Almost 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, according to human rights group Viasna.
