# US-Belarus political prisoner negotiations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-belarus-political-prisoner-negotiations
> Updated: 2026-09-15T07:50:44.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 3.

U.S. special envoy John Coale has been leading diplomatic negotiations with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to secure the release of political prisoners in exchange for the easing of U.S. sanctions. Earlier efforts resulted in the release of approximately 700 to 800 individuals, with Coale expressing an initial goal to increase that number to 1,000.

By mid-September, Coale returned to Minsk for direct talks with Lukashenko. On September 15, 2026, an interim deal was reached in which Belarus agreed to release 25 prisoners, including journalist Andrei Alyaksandrau and several musicians. In response, the released individuals arrived in Lithuania. To fulfill the agreement, the United States is set to lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies: the paint manufacturer Lakokraska and the agricultural concern Bellesbumprom.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda welcomed the humanitarian progress but cautioned against equating these releases with broader political or security shifts, citing ongoing concerns regarding drone incursions, illegal migration, and the expansion of the Astravyets nuclear power plant near NATO borders.

Acting on behalf of President Donald Trump, Coale indicated that both sides are working toward further prisoner releases and additional sanctions relief. During the talks, Lukashenko also urged the U.S. to unfreeze approximately $44 million in Belarusian assets held at Citibank. 

While the interim deal is viewed by some as a humanitarian success, human rights group Viasna reports that approximately 912 political prisoners remain in custody. The exiled Belarusian opposition and Viasna have characterized the process as a ‘pure trade’ of hostages for sanctions relief, arguing it fails to address the regime’s fundamental repressive nature or the ‘systematic’ human rights violations noted by United Nations experts.

## Claims

- John Coale announced that 25 prisoners have been released in Belarus. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The United States will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies in exchange for the prisoner releases. (corroborated by 13 sources)
- The sanctions being lifted apply to the companies Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- More than 900 political prisoners remain in Belarus. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Lukashenko requested the unfreezing of approximately $44 million in Belarusian assets held at Citibank. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Journalist Andrei Alyaksandrau was among those released. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-15: Belarus releases 25 prisoners in interim deal with United States

Belarus has released 25 prisoners in an interim deal with the U.S., which will lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies, Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom, following talks between John Coale and Alexander Lukashen

25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-envoy-john-coale-meets-lukashenko-for-belarus-prisoner-talks

### 2026-09-15: U.S. envoy meets Lithuanian officials over Belarus diplomacy

U.S. Special Envoy John Coale met with Lithuanian officials to discuss Belarus diplomacy, resulting in the release of 25 political prisoners and the lifting of specific U.S. sanctions on Belarusian entities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-envoy-meets-lithuanian-officials-over-belarus-diplomacy

### 2026-08-31: US envoy seeks release of more political prisoners in Belarus

U.S. special envoy John Coale aims to secure the release of hundreds more political prisoners in Belarus by mid-September as part of ongoing negotiations involving sanctions relief.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-envoy-seeks-release-of-more-political-prisoners-in-belarus

---
Cite as: US-Belarus political prisoner negotiations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-belarus-political-prisoner-negotiations