Belarus frees 250 political prisoners, US removes more sanctions in latest signs of thaw

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko freed 250 prisoners on Thursday – the biggest batch to be released so far – in return for a further easing of US sanctions, the US embassy in neighbouring Lithuania said.

The releases were part of a bargaining process in which Lukashenko was seeking a normalisation of ties with Washington after years of isolation and sanctions, in exchange for easing repression in the former Soviet state he has led since 1994.

Belarusian ‌human rights group Viasna said before Thursday’s announcement there were more than 1,100 political prisoners in the country.

One of those freed was Marfa Rabkova, the coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer network, who was arrested in September 2020 and was serving a sentence of 14 years and nine months for “extremism” and other charges that she denied. Supporters say she has suffered serious health problems in prison.

Bloggers, activists, journalists and protesters were also among those released after talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk between Lukashenko and John Coale, an envoy for US President Donald Trump.