Belarusian President Pardons 123 Political Prisoners

(Patria) - Belarus has released 123 prisoners after Washington stated it was lifting sanctions on Belarusian fertilizer exports.

Belarusian media and human rights organizations reported yesterday that the country's leader, Alexander Lukashenko, pardoned 123 prisoners.

Among those released are prominent 2020 protest leader Maryja Kalesnikava and Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski, as well as citizens of several countries.

A representative of opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's office said that all released political prisoners are safe and have left Belarus.

According to Belarusian state media reports, the prisoners were pardoned as a result of an agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The prisoners were released after state media reports quoted Trump's envoy John Coale as saying that Washington was lifting sanctions on potash, a Belarusian export product in the fertilizer sector.

"In accordance with President Trump's instructions, the United States is lifting sanctions on potash. This is a very good move by the US for Belarus," Coale said.

Belarus is one of the world's largest producers of potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer.

Coale says the two sides also discussed the possibility of improving relations.

"We discussed the future, how to move forward by bringing the US and Belarus closer. That is our goal," Coale stated.

A year after the presidential elections in Belarus, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Minsk in August 2021.

The sanctions targeted Belaruskali, the country's largest fertilizer producer, for being "a primary source of tax revenue and foreign currency for Lukashenko's regime".

Coale points out that he discussed a wide range of issues with Lukashenko, including the war between Ukraine and Russia, as well as Venezuela.

He stated that, given Lukashenko's long-standing friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Washington wants his help in influencing the Kremlin.

"Your president has a long history with President Putin and has the ability to give him advice. This is very useful in this situation," Coale emphasizes.

He also notes that Lukashenko might be able to change Putin's mind in the context of ongoing discussions to end the war in Ukraine.

"Of course, President Putin may accept some advice and not others. This is a way to facilitate the process," Coale concluded.