Belarus releases 250 prisoners, US agrees sanctions relief, Vilnius embassy says - Reuters
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Belarus released 250 prisoners as part of a deal involving U.S. sanctions relief, signaling a shift in Trump administration policy.
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Belarus has released 250 prisoners in what the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius says is part of a deal involving American sanctions relief. The prisoner release represents a potential shift in relations between Minsk and Washington, which have been strained over Belarus's alignment with Russia and its internal human rights record. The U.S. decision to offer sanctions relief suggests diplomatic movement on an issue that has been contentious since Alexander Lukashenko's disputed 2020 reelection and the subsequent crackdown on opposition protesters. The specific terms of the agreement and the identities of the released prisoners have not been detailed in available reporting. This development could signal the Trump administration's willingness to engage with the Belarusian government despite historical concerns about democratic freedoms in the country.
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Belarus released 250 prisoners and the U.S. agreed to provide sanctions relief.
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