Trump's special envoy: US to release hundreds more prisoners in Belarus

U.S. President John Cole said he could visit Belarus again in a month. Speaking to reporters, he said he hoped the United States could help free hundreds more prisoners in the country.

“I hope hundreds more will be released. I am sure we will pull out many more, the US official said (quoted by Reuters). He added that “all prisoners” could be released by the end of the year. What was meant, Mr. Cole did not specify.

John Cole met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on September 15 in Minsk. After the talks, Belarus agreed to release 25 prisoners in exchange for the lifting of sanctions against Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. Among them, as Fontanka writes, activist Yana Pinchuk, extradited in 2021.