President Trump’s administration has brokered a dramatic diplomatic exchange with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, securing the freedom of 123 political prisoners, including high-profile opposition figures and a Nobel laureate. In return for the mass release, the US has lifted targeted sanctions on Belarus’s vital potash export sector. The deal, spearheaded by US Special Envoy John Coale, marks a pragmatic shift in American foreign policy, prioritizing tangible results and the release of an estimated 1,400 “hostages” over immediate demands for democratic change. While hailed by families of the freed, the move has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and European allies who warn of the risks of legitimizing the authoritarian regime.
Story Highlights
- Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko pardons 123 prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and opposition leaders Maria Kolesnikova and Viktor Babariko.
- US lifts sanctions on Belarus potash sector after talks led by Special Envoy John Coale in Minsk on December 12-13, 2025.
- Trump directs pragmatic deal to free 1,400 “hostages,” building on prior releases totaling 156 since September.
- Prisoners deported to countries like UK, USA, Lithuania; 1,200 remain jailed under Lukashenko’s rule.
Trump’s Diplomacy Delivers Prisoner Releases
US Special Envoy John Coale met Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on December 12, 2025. Talks produced results the next day when the US announced lifting sanctions on Belarus’s potash exports. Lukashenko immediately pardoned 123 political prisoners convicted of espionage and terrorism. High-profile figures like Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, and presidential candidate Viktor Babariko gained freedom. This marks Trump’s pragmatic approach prioritizing American interests through direct negotiations.
Lukashenko has pardoned 123 people. 104 people, including Viktor Babariko and Maria Kolesnikova, are already in Ukraine. Thank you @johnpcoale @realDonaldTrump @PressSec pic.twitter.com/gFzBLZ8Kd9
— Dmitry Bolkunets (ツ) (@Balkunets) December 13, 2025
Building on Prior Wins Against Lukashenko Regime
The December deal expands on September 11, 2025, when 52 prisoners walked free after US eased Belavia airline sanctions. Coale mediated that release at Trump’s request. Late November actions added more, reaching a cumulative 156 releases. Belarus faced Western sanctions since its 2020 disputed election, which crushed mass protests and jailed over 1,200 dissidents. Incidents like the 2021 Ryanair hijacking to seize journalist Raman Pratasevich fueled penalties. Trump’s strategy uses economic leverage to extract concessions without endless isolation.
Key Players and Strategic Calculations
President Trump called Lukashenko a strong leader and seeks full release of around 1,400 hostages, eyeing embassy reopening in Minsk. Lukashenko praised Trump’s personal friendship and balances ties with Russia and the West for economic relief. Coale hailed talks as productive, advancing from baby steps to normalization while discussing Ukraine peace. Prisoners, including citizens from multiple nations, reunited with families abroad after deportation. Human rights groups like Viasna confirmed the largest releases in years but track 1,200 still imprisoned.
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the freedoms but labeled it a trade in human lives, warning of loopholes aiding Russia. EU figures like Kaja Kallas urge reforms before broader relief. Trump’s deal tests pariah engagement, potentially reducing Belarus’s Moscow dependence while critics fear legitimizing the regime without democratic change.
Short-Term Gains and Long-Term Risks
Potash sanctions lift boosts Belarus’s key export sector, granting Lukashenko economic breathing room amid isolation. Freed prisoners escape cruel conditions, enhancing US diplomatic credibility. This avoids escalation during Ukraine tensions, where Belarus aided Russia’s 2022 invasion from its soil. Long-term, full normalization could reopen channels but risks indirect benefits to Moscow via aviation or tech. Opposition fears releases serve as bargaining chips, not true rights progress. Trump’s calculated gamble prioritizes quick wins over idealistic demands.
Analysts view the pact as rewarding a Russian ally, yet it yields tangible results where Biden-era policies stalled. Families celebrate reunions; Belarus economy gains; remaining prisoners highlight unfinished work. EU caution strains transatlantic unity, underscoring Trump’s America First realism in global chess.
Watch the report: Belarus frees 123 prisoners in exchange for lifting of US sanctions • FRANCE 24 English
Sources:
- Belarus frees 52 political prisoners as US eases sanctions in rare diplomatic breakthrough
- Belarus releases 123 political prisoners as US lifts some sanctions
- US lifts sanctions on Belarusian potash, Lukashenko releases 123 more political prisoners
- US, Belarus seek deal on political prisoners and sanctions
