Łukašenka claims Minsk was invited to join major US-Russia prisoner swap

August 2, Pozirk. Belarus was “asked” to join a major prisoner exchange between the Western countries and Russia on August 1, Alaksandar Łukašenka has said today during his trip to the Homiel region.
“We got involved and helped as much as we could,” his press office reports, quoting him as saying. “Some people like the US president are trying to gain more authority on this, even though they had nothing to do with it. The special services conducted these negotiations, even diplomats were not involved. We agreed that we would do it quietly.”
Belarusian authorities deal with such situations “wisely, paying attention to national interests,” Łukašenka said.
Belarus “does not trade in people,” he added, referring to the case of Rico Krieger, a German national sentenced to death in Belarus and included in the swap.
Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja was not involved in the prisoner exchange talks, which took place without Minsk’s participation, her team said in a statement.
Western governments ignored Belarusian interests while negotiating prisoner swap with Russia, said the Rada of the Belarusian National Republic (BNR), representing the oldest Belarusian government in exile.
The United States and European leaders ignored the suffering of the Belarusian people, who found themselves in their current position not least because the West was willing to see Belarus as Moscow’s “exclusive zone of interests,” it stressed.

Chancellor Scholz: release of Belarusian political prisoners still important
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityLithuanian foreign minister urges EU to boost funding for members bordering Russia, BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsGovernment planning to foster tourism in next five yearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPolish interior minister concerned about Russian drone activity near PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBEROC think tank declared extremistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, SocietyBelarus’ chief investigator discusses mutual assistance with Georgian interior ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvia not eligible to receive drone alerts from Belarus, general saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus discussing direct air link with VenezuelaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus-EU irregular crossings surpass 2024 total by September 16The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyAt least nine Belarusians detained in US immigration casesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvia bans night flights near shared borders with Belarus, Russia until October 8The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyNumber of Belarusian expats in Lithuania down 10 percent since year’s startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsReprisals: rights groups label journalist, 16 others as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka comments on Statkievič’s disappearanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SportŁukašenka changes rules for financing of sports federations, clubsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecuritySix Belarusian-registered aircraft remain under US sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics