{"id":179268,"date":"2026-03-13T14:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179268\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:49:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:49:33","slug":"lukasenka-says-minsk-discussing-bilateral-ties-prisoner-releases-with-washington","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179268\/","title":{"rendered":"Luka\u0161enka says Minsk discussing prisoner releases with Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Aleksandra Kovacic \/ unsplash.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

March 13, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Minsk is conducting negotiations with Washington without discussing Belarus\u2019 ties with Russia or China, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka said today during his visit to the Mahilo\u016d region, Belarusian state-run media report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talks with the US representatives focus on bilateral relations \u201cranging from the restoration of regular operations at the embassy to the release of so-called political prisoners,\u201d the politician said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the discussions also cover economic matters and sanctions. \u201cThere are about ten issues in total. We are negotiating with them on all issues,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler made these remarks days after reports emerged that John Coale, the US special envoy for Belarus, plans to visit the country later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian officials say that Minsk has been engaged in talks with Washington since mid-2024. Since then, \u0141uka\u0161enka has pardoned about 350 imprisoned regime critics. In September and December 2025, he released two large groups of dissidents, including prominent opposition figures, as a result of talks with Coale. \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s state security agencies bussed all the convicts out of Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the pardons and the releases of hundreds of people upon completion of their terms, the overall number of political prisoners in Belarus does not change considerably, averaging 1,150 for many successive months. This proves that the government continues to persecute \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of March 13, human rights defenders had identified at least 1,130 political prisoners, but the real number is considerably higher because of many undocumented cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus\u2019 security agencies label more and more opposition and civil society organizations as \u201cextremist\u201d groups, broadening the scale of political reprisals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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