Belarus President Lukashenko Meets U.S. Envoy to Discuss Sanctions

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko met with U.S. special envoy John Coale on Tuesday to advocate for the lifting of remaining U.S. sanctions against Belarus. During the meeting, Lukashenko stated that "we have reached quite a few agreements related to our economic ties" and urged Washington to assist in unblocking Belarusian assets he claimed were "stuck in Citibank." Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, Lukashenko has released hundreds of political prisoners in a series of U.S.-mediated agreements that have also resulted in the lifting of some U.S. sanctions. Lukashenko expressed openness to discussing potential deals, including the export of Belarusian fertilizers to the U.S. As part of a deal in March, Lukashenko ordered the release of 250 political prisoners, while the U.S. agreed to lift sanctions on two Belarusian state banks and the country's Finance Ministry, as well as remove top Belarusian potash producers from a sanctions list. In April, a deal led to the release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut in a swap with Poland that freed a total of 10 individuals. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for over three decades, facing repeated sanctions from Western nations due to human rights violations and allowing Russian military operations during the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following a disputed presidential election in 2020, mass protests erupted, leading to a crackdown that resulted in the detention of tens of thousands. Despite the release of some prisoners, the Belarusian opposition has noted that political repression continues, with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a leader in exile, expressing gratitude for U.S. efforts while emphasizing the ongoing repression under Lukashenko's regime. According to the Viasna human rights center, Belarus currently has 912 political prisoners, including 20 journalists. Pavel Sapelka, a lawyer with Viasna, stated that political repression remains severe, with new prisoners being detained regularly. Lukashenko denied the existence of political prisoners, claiming that there is no need for persecution for political reasons. Observers suggest that engagement with the U.S. may help Lukashenko reduce his reliance on Russia and improve his international standing. A U.N. report released on Tuesday indicated that Belarusian authorities are using the criminal justice system to target government opponents, with calls for accountability for human rights violations.