WARSAW: A US envoy was in Minsk for talks with longtime Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko Friday, video from state media showed, as Washington pushes for prisoner releases in the repressive Moscow-allied country.
Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has waged a massive crackdown in Belarus since 2020 protests against his rule, with more than 1,000 people still in prison.
Minsk said US President Donald Trump’s envoy John Coale was in Minsk for “negotiations” with Lukashenko.
Previous such visits have led to prisoner releases.
“Negotiations have started today, they will continue tomorrow,” a Telegram channel run by Lukashenko’s team said.
