Belarus frees 25 political prisoners after United States agrees to lift sanctions on two companies

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Belarus released 25 political prisoners as part of a deal brokered by U.S. special envoy John Coale. The prisoners, including journalist Andrei Aleksandrov, activist Iryna Zlobina, and former TUT.BY head Liudmila Chekina, were freed after the United States agreed to lift sanctions on two Belarusian companies. The release occurred in Minsk, and the prisoners were transported to Lithuania. Despite this, 887 political prisoners remain in Belarus, according to the Viasna human rights center. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the release but emphasized that repression continues.