Belarus frees 52 prisoners after talks with Trump envoy

• 14 foreign nationals, including Lithuanians, Latvians, Poles, Germans, a French citizen, and a Briton, were among those freed 'at the request of the President of the United States,' says President Lukashenko
• US eases some sanctions on Belarus airline as Lithuanian president says '52 prisoners safely crossed the Lithuanian border from Belarus today, leaving behind barbed wire, barred windows and constant fear'

ISTANBUL

Belarus released 52 prisoners on Thursday following talks between President Alexander Lukashenko and a senior US envoy, with both Minsk and Vilnius thanking US President Donald Trump for his role in the deal.

Belarusian presidential press secretary Natalya Eismont confirmed the release, saying Lukashenko had pardoned 52 people “based on the principles of humanism.”

She noted that the age, health, and family reunification needs of the convicts were taken into account and said the group included “leaders and members of extremist and terrorist organizations, participants in mass riots, and representatives of extremist and destructive media.” All those pardoned left Belarus the same day.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hailed the release on social media, writing: “52 prisoners safely crossed the Lithuanian border from Belarus today, leaving behind barbed wire, barred windows and constant fear.”

He added: “52 is a lot. A great many. Yet more than 1,000 political prisoners still remain in Belarusian prisons and we cannot stop until they see freedom!”

A Trump administration official said Washington, DC, will ease some sanctions on Belarus’ state airline, Belavia, “based on the prisoner releases to date and constructive engagement.”

The relief will allow Belavia to service and purchase components for its existing Boeing fleet.

The official also noted that Trump’s envoy, John Coale, informed Lukashenko of the US interest in reopening its embassy in Minsk and delivered a personal letter and gift from Trump.

Lukashenko said 14 foreign nationals, including Lithuanians, Latvians, Poles, Germans, a French citizen, and a Briton, were among those freed “at the request of the President of the United States.”

“No matter how banal it may sound, I want to thank your president (Trump) … for the efforts he is making toward peace, primarily in our region,” Lukashenko said during the meeting.

Human rights group Viasna said prominent opposition figures were among those freed, including former presidential candidate Mikola Statkevich, activist Uladzimir Matskevich, and Lithuanian citizen Elena Romanauskiene.

Earlier this year, Belarus also released dissident Sergey Tikhanovsky following another rare US official visit.

The US official said Washington, DC, would “continue to work to free the nearly 1,300 remaining political prisoners in Belarus.”