March 20, Pozirk. Washington hopes to secure the release of all jailed Belarusian dissidents by the end of 2026, John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus, told Newsmax after Minsk released 250 designated political prisoners yesterday.
The total number of people freed from Belarusian prisons with US engagement exceeded 500 so far, he noted.
Previous pardons of regime critics after talks with the US diplomats usually led to former prisoners being taken out of Belarus. However, this time, as many as 235 stayed in Belarus, while 15 were taken to Lithuania.
Those freed on March 19 include human rights defenders Marfa Rabkova, Nasta Łojka and Valancin Stefanovič; journalist Kaciaryna Bachvałava (Andrejeva), blogger Eduard Palčys, as well as Kiryl Kaziej, Alaksandar Kazlanka, Dźmitryj Kubareŭ, Mikałaj Kulašoŭ, Siarhiej Mavšuk, Alaksiej Mielnikaŭ, Kim Samusienka, Pavieł Špietny, Dzianis Žalezka and Mikita Załataroŭ.
The US lifted sanctions on two Belarusian banks, Biełinvest and the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus, and the Ministry of Finance of Belarus.
