The US should trade sanctions relief for Belarusian prisoner releases

U.S. envoy John Coale resumed negotiations with Alexander Lukashenko's government over political-prisoner releases, frozen Belarusian assets and sanctions relief. Belarus subsequently released 25 prisoners, while Washington agreed to remove sanctions from Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. Human-rights organisations say more than 900 political prisoners remain imprisoned and that new arrests continue.