MINSK — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with U.S. special envoy for Belarus John Coale on Tuesday to discuss economic ties and sanctions relief. Coale arrived in Minsk on Tuesday for his first talks with Lukashenko in six months.

Lukashenko stated that the two sides had made progress during the meeting. He said they had reached quite a few agreements related to their economic ties. The president also expressed interest in discussing the export of Belarusian fertilizers to the U.S. and stated he is open to discussing a deal big or small regarding sanctions.

During the discussions, Lukashenko urged Washington to help unblock Belarusian assets he said were stuck in Citibank. He denied that his government engages in political persecution, asserting that recent prisoner releases were genuine gestures rather than tactical swaps. He said there is no need for his government to persecute anyone for political reasons today.

He rejected claims that the regime arrests new detainees to replace those freed. He said fugitives are spreading a narrative in the West that while the government is releasing some people, it is continuing repressions and detaining twice as many in their place, and called that absolutely untrue.

Lawyer Pavel Sapelka stated that the regime uses detainees as leverage. He said "Lukashenko treats political prisoners like commodities to be traded for the lifting of sanctions, yet the repressive nature of the regime remains unchanged." He described a cycle of detention and release. He said harsh political repressions continue in the country, and the regime employs a revolving door policy, with new political prisoners constantly put behind bars.

The Viasna human rights center reports that Belarus has 912 political prisoners, including 20 journalists. This count persists despite previous releases. In March, Lukashenko ordered the release of 250 political prisoners as part of a U.S.-brokered deal.

Corresponding to that action, in March, the U.S. agreed to lift sanctions from two Belarusian state banks, the Finance Ministry, and top potash producers. In April, journalist Andrzej Poczobut was released in a prisoner swap with Poland that freed a total of 10 people.

Timeline

In March, the U.S. agreed to lift sanctions from two Belarusian state banks, the Finance Ministry, and top potash producers.

What's New

John Coale arrived in Minsk on Tuesday for his first talks with Lukashenko in six months. U.N. experts found that Belarusian courts, police, security services, prosecutors, and prison authorities worked together to silence opponents since 2020. U.N. experts cited arbitrary arrests, torture, denial of legal safeguards, closed trials, and harassment of former detainees as systematic violations.

U.N. experts stated that abuses committed since May 2020 could amount to crimes against humanity, including persecution and imprisonment. The experts said the patterns of violations described in the paper continue to the present day.

Why It Matters

A U.N. group of experts stated Tuesday that Belarusian authorities are using the criminal justice system to systematically target government opponents. Belarus did not cooperate with U.N. experts and left requests to visit the country unanswered. U.N. Expert Susan Bazilli stated that accountability remains necessary. She said those responsible for serious human rights violations must know that impunity is not a permanent shield, and victims must know that their rights have not been forgotten. She added that the international community must not look away.