NYT: U.S. Negotiates Mass Political Prisoner Release with Lukashenka

• 15.02.2025, 17:09

Sanctions are working.

The release of a US citizen and two Belarusian political prisoners by Aliaksandr Lukashenka could be the first step towards a large-scale deal between Washington and Minsk. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Chris Smith stated this at a meeting of diplomats in Vilnius, The New York Times writes, citing sources. The publication was brought to the attention of the Agency. News.

Smith participated in the taking one US citizen and two Belarusian political prisoners out of Belarus. Minsk released them on February 12. The diplomat was among the Americans who went to Minsk to remove these people. During the visit, he met with Aliaksandr Lukashenka and the head of the Belarusian KGB Ivan Tsertsel, the NYT writes.

As part of the deal being discussed, as Smith said in Vilnius, Lukashenko could release many political prisoners, including well-known ones. In exchange, the newspaper's sources said that the US would ease sanctions against Belarusian banks and potash fertilizer exports.

Smith said the main goal of the US is to release more political prisoners. Another important goal is to give Lukashenka "a breathing space outside Russia's orbit," the journalists' sources said. Smith said that he asked Lukashenka if he was ready to end the repressions, and he answered positively.

Smith oversaw US policy on Belarus under the previous US administration. He began negotiations with US allies to ease sanctions last year, the NYT notes.

The US State Department did not respond to the newspaper's inquiries.