{"id":179512,"date":"2026-03-16T11:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T08:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179512\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T12:01:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T09:01:05","slug":"cichanouskaja-commends-trump-administrations-efforts-to-free-jailed-dissidents","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179512\/","title":{"rendered":"Cichano\u016dskaja commends Trump administration\u2019s efforts to free jailed dissidents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Transition cabinet's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

March 16, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja has praised the efforts by US President Donald Trump and John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus, to secure the release of jailed Belarusian dissidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs I said before, the United States has the leverage to help make this happen. This is about saving people\u2019s lives. Every day matters,” she noted on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka said that Minsk was conducting negotiations with Washington on a wide range of issues, including the restoration of regular operations at the embassy to the \u201crelease of so-called political prisoners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler made these remarks days after reports emerged that Coale planned to visit the country later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visits by representatives of Trump\u2019s administration are typically followed by talks with \u0141uka\u0161enka and the release of groups of designated political prisoners. In return, some sanctions may be eased, as previously occurred with Bie\u0142avija and Bie\u0142aru\u015bkalij.<\/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

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