{"id":163545,"date":"2025-11-10T15:21:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T12:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163545\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"lukasenka-seeks-us-sanctions-relief-without-reforms-viacorka-warns","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/163545\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka seeks US sanctions relief without reforms, Via\u010dorka warns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n John Coale meeting Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka in September.\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Belarusian ruler's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

November 10, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka is trying to deceive the United States into lifting sanctions without changing his repressive policies, and it will be the task of the new US envoy to prevent that, leading Belarusian pro-democracy politician Franak Via\u010dorka told Pozirk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Via\u010dorka said that John Coale, nominated by the US president for the role, is well suited to carry out this mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe is a professional negotiator who has already helped secure the release of more than 100 political prisoners. We stay in regular contact with him,\u201d said Via\u010dorka, an aide to opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must remain consistent and principled\u2014our goals are the release of political prisoners and an end to repression,\u201d he emphasized, noting that another group of detainees could be freed soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Via\u010dorka described \u0141uka\u0161enka as a \u201ctough negotiator\u201d who seeks concessions without offering any in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJohn Coale\u2019s role is crucial. From our conversations, I understood that he is not na\u00efve and knows exactly who \u0141uka\u0161enka is. That\u2019s why the Americans must take a firm and consistent stance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Via\u010dorka also stressed that released prisoners must have the freedom to choose whether to stay in Belarus or go into exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coale previously served as deputy to Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump\u2019s special envoy for Ukraine, and took part in negotiations with \u0141uka\u0161enka that led to the release of jailed Belarusian dissidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most recent pardons, announced on September 11 following Coale\u2019s meeting with the Belarusian ruler, included 52 people\u2014among them prominent opposition figures and journalists. Coale is now involved in talks over the release of 50 more regime critics, whom Trump has described as hostages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka recently said he was open to a \u201cgrand bargain\u201d with Washington, hinting that he had specific conditions in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI tell the Americans: you have to understand me. I said that Trump acts the same way,\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka said. \u201cThat\u2019s the essence of this \u2018grand bargain\u2019: we do what they want, and they do what we want. We\u2019re ready for that\u2014but we have our own interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Belarusian officials, Minsk has been in talks with Washington since mid-2024. Since then, \u0141uka\u0161enka has pardoned more than 300 imprisoned regime critics. But more than 1,200 are still held in prisons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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