Cichanoŭskaja commends Trump administration’s efforts to free jailed dissidents

March 16, Pozirk. Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has praised the efforts by US President Donald Trump and John Coale, US special envoy for Belarus, to secure the release of jailed Belarusian dissidents.
“As I said before, the United States has the leverage to help make this happen. This is about saving people’s lives. Every day matters,” she noted on X.
Last week, Alaksandar Łukašenka said that Minsk was conducting negotiations with Washington on a wide range of issues, including the restoration of regular operations at the embassy to the “release of so-called political prisoners.”
The Belarusian ruler made these remarks days after reports emerged that Coale planned to visit the country later this month.
Visits by representatives of Trump’s administration are typically followed by talks with Łukašenka and the release of groups of designated political prisoners. In return, some sanctions may be eased, as previously occurred with Biełavija and Biełaruśkalij.
Belarusian officials say that Minsk has been engaged in talks with Washington since mid-2024. Since then, Łukašenka has pardoned about 350 imprisoned regime critics. In September and December 2025, he released two large groups of dissidents, including prominent opposition figures, as a result of talks with Coale. Łukašenka’s state security agencies bussed all the convicts out of Belarus.
Despite the pardons and the releases of hundreds of people upon completion of their terms, the overall number of political prisoners in Belarus does not change considerably, averaging 1,150 for many successive months. This proves that the government continues to persecute Łukašenka’s opponents.
US said to be negotiating release of a new group of Belarusian political prisoners
Coale acknowledges dissident release in Belarus, says Trump ordered all freed
- PoliticsBelarus’ top diplomat, Serbia's envoy reaffirm commitment to dialogueThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPoland arrests Belarusian in $813,000 cigarette smuggling caseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyLabor productivity rises 1.1 percent, real pay 7.5 percent in H1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityBelarus launches 17-day air defense drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka announces upcoming meeting with PutinThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja plays up value of independence in anniversary messageThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsZelensky to Cichanoŭskaja: Europe cannot afford to lose any nation seeking real independenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyNew “extremist” designations, politically motivated arrest reported in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: pre-tax monthly pay up 2.2 percent in JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka orders coins to commemorate All-Belarusian People’s AssemblyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank cuts estimated values of standard riskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to raise labor pensions on September 1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia release 10 return prisoners each in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SecurityBelarus testing artillery, command-chain readiness using lessons from Ukraine, IranThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka notes plunge in trade with Russia's Arkhangelsk provinceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyLithuania intercepts two drones carrying Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+



