Released human rights defender Valentin Stefanovich (L) faces reporters after arriving in Vilnius after a prisoner release from Belarus on March 19, 2026. PETRAS MALUKAS / AFP
Belarus freed 250 political prisoners on Thursday, March 19, following negotiations with the United States, while Washington agreed to remove sanctions on several Belarusian companies in return, a US official said. The prisoner release, the largest in years, came hours after US envoy John Coale met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
US President Donald Trump has sought to build ties with Belarus, a close ally of Russia, since taking office last year, easing sanctions on the country and welcoming it to his "Board of Peace."
The authoritarian state in Eastern Europe has released dozens of prisoners in recent months, largely due to US efforts.
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