US plans to lift some sanctions on Belarus in exchange for release of 25 political prisoners

The United States will lift sanctions on Belarusian companies Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom in exchange for the release of 25 political prisoners by Alexander Lukashenko's regime.

Source: European Pravda; US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale, as quoted by BelTA, a Belarusian state-owned news outlet

Details: Coale said the agreement had been reached following talks in Minsk with representatives of the Belarusian regime.

He said Belarus will release 25 people as a gesture of goodwill and the United States will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies, Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom.

Background:

• Coale arrived in Minsk on Tuesday.
• In Minsk, Coale held talks with Lukashenko.
• According to an official Belarusian statement, Prime Minister Alexander Turchin, KGB Chairman Ivan Tertel and Belarus's Permanent Representative to the UN, Valentin Rybakov, also took part in the talks.
• In June, Washington informed Belarusian democratic forces in exile of delays in securing the release of a larger number of political prisoners.

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