Overview
- Following talks in Minsk on March 19 with U.S. envoy John Coale, Belarus pardoned and released 250 people described by international monitors as political prisoners.
- The United States removed or suspended measures on two Belarusian banks, the Finance Ministry and two major potash producers, which Coale framed as part of a humanitarian step.
- Rights groups say hundreds remain jailed, with Viasna reporting more than 1,100 political prisoners even as Alexander Lukashenko publicly rejects that such prisoners exist.
- Among those freed are prominent figures cited by watchdogs, including activist Marfa Rabkowa and journalist Katsyaryna (Jekaterina) Andreyeva, with about 15 of the released flown to Lithuania.
- Coale said he discussed reviving bilateral ties, including a possible Lukashenko visit to the United States or a phone call with President Trump.