Trump to appoint Belarus envoy as special envoy for hostages
US President Donald Trump has nominated special envoy for Belarus John Cole as special envoy for hostage affairs. According to him, during the year, Mr. Cole has secured the return of more than 65 citizens of the United States and allied countries from Belarus, as well as “agreed on the release of more than 800 political prisoners” from several Eastern European countries.
US President Donald Trump has nominated special envoy for Belarus John Cole as special envoy for hostage affairs. According to him, during the year, Mr. Cole has secured the return of more than 65 citizens of the United States and allied countries from Belarus, as well as “agreed on the release of more than 800 political prisoners” from several Eastern European countries.
“I am delighted to announce that John Cole, a lawyer and my incredibly successful Special Envoy for Belarus, will be my nominee for Special Representative for the President for Hostage Affairs as Ambassador,” Trump wrote on Truth social.
U.S. authorities began easing sanctions against Belarus in exchange for the release of prisoners in 2025. In mid-September, Minsk agreed to release 25 prisoners in exchange for lifting restrictions on the producer of potash fertilizers Bellesbumprom and Lakokraska. The Atlantic reported that, through a similar mechanism, Donald Trump agreed to ease sanctions against Russia in exchange for the release of convicted Russians who opposed Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The Kremlin says there are no political prisoners in Russia.
