Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the release of 250 political prisoners as part of a deal with the United States.
“On the ground at the Lithuanian-Belarus border,” said President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Belarus, John Coale. “Today’s release of 250 individuals is a significant humanitarian milestone and a testament to the President’s commitment to direct, hard-nosed diplomacy. Freedom is our goal. We extend our deepest gratitude to our Lithuanian partners for their pivotal role in this mission.”
According to Euro News, there are more than 1,100 political prisoners in Belarusian jails, with many having been imprisoned during the protests of the 2020 election.
In August 2025, President Donald Trump thanked Lukashenko for the release of 16 prisoners, urging him to release an additional 1,300 prisoners.
“I had a wonderful talk with the highly respected President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko. The purpose of the call was to thank him for the release of 16 prisoners. We are also discussing the release of 1,300 additional prisoners,” Trump said. “Our conversation was a very good one. We discussed many topics, including President Putin’s visit to Alaska. I look forward to meeting President Lukashenko in the future. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
In February, the United States welcomed the release of a U.S. citizen who was “unjustly detained” in Belarus. “President Trump’s strong leadership has led to the release of an American unjustly detained in Belarus and two political prisoners. I want to particularly thank the Lithuanian government for its cooperation and assistance – they remain a true ally and friend,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time.
