US envoy meets with Łukašenka, promises to lift Biełavia sanctions

September 11, Pozirk. Washington is lifting sanctions on Belarus’ Biełavia airline, said John Coale, US deputy special envoy to Ukraine, after meeting with Alaksandar Łukašenka in Minsk on September 11.

Coale said the lifting of sanctions was just the beginning, noting that if he and Łukašenka reach a deal on prisoners at the meeting, the two countries can achieve a lot on the path to normalization.

Pul Pervogo, a Telegram channel run by the Belarusian ruler’s press office, has published footage from the meeting.

Łukašenka credited Donald Trump with ending “seven-six wars or conflicts—it doesn’t matter,” urging the US president not to give up on his peace efforts, “especially here in the region in the conflict of Russia and Ukraine.”

“Naturally, we have a great interest in your global country in terms of the economy,” the Belarusian strongman added.

Coale read out the US president’s and his wife Melania Trump’s birthday greetings to Łukašenka, noting that Donald Trump’s signature “Donald” is a special sign of friendship.

Also taking part in the meeting were Christopher Smith, deputy assistant secretary for Eastern Europe; Valancin Rybakoŭ, Belarus’ representative to the UN; and Committee for State Security (KGB) chief Ivan Tertel.

Earlier meetings between Łukašenka and US diplomats resulted in the release of several groups of political prisoners, including politician and influencer Siarhiej Cichanoŭski.

Trump expressed hope earlier this month that Belarus would free the 1,400–1,500 remaining “hostages.”

The Biełavia sanctions were imposed after Belarus’ secret services hijacked Ryanair Flight 4978. Agents cited a false bomb threat to divert the passenger aircraft to Minsk and arrest opposition journalist Raman Pratasievič.

The incident has not been properly investigated because Belarusian officials denied international experts access to key evidence and witnesses.

The International Civil Aviation Organization Council determined that the bomb threat against Ryanair Flight 4978 “was deliberately false and endangered its safety, and furthermore that the threat was communicated to the flight crew upon the instructions of senior government officials of Belarus.”

“As neither a bomb nor evidence of its existence was found during pre-departure screening in Athens, Greece, and after various searches of the aircraft in Belarus and Lithuania, it is considered that the bomb threat was deliberately false. Knowingly communicating false information which endangers the safety of an aircraft in flight is an offence under Article 1 (1) (e) of the Montréal Convention,” it said.

Trump on Belarus’ prisoners: It looks like they will be released soon