Belarus has released 52 prisoners of various nationalities who are already traveling to Lithuania with the US delegation that negotiated their release. This was announced by a spokesman for the US embassy in Vilnius, quoted by “Reuters“, BTA reports.
President Donald Trump earlier called on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to release the detainees, calling them “hostages“. This is the largest group of prisoners pardoned so far by Lukashenko, who is seeking to restore relations with the US after years of isolation and sanctions.
However, their number is far from the total of 1,300-1,400 people whose release Trump requested in a conversation with Lukashenko last month and in posts on social networks.
“A US delegation led by the representative of the administration of Trump John Cole, is heading to Vilnius after talks in Minsk, where 52 prisoners of various nationalities were released, the US embassy spokesman said.
Belarusian news agency BelTA reported that 14 foreigners from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, France, the UK and Germany were among those released.
BelTA quoted Cole as handing Lukashenko a letter from Trump, personally signed by “Donald“. According to Cole, this is “a rare display of personal friendship“. Lukashenko said:
“If Donald insists that he is ready to accept all these released prisoners, God bless you, let's try to make a global deal, as Mr. Trump likes to say - a big deal“.
Lukashenko also praised Trump for his efforts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, it was announced that the Belarusian national airline “Belavia“ would receive limited sanctions relief as a sign of constructive cooperation. “The limited relief will allow ‘Belavia’ to service and purchase components for its existing fleet, which includes ‘Boeing’ aircraft,“ the US Embassy in Vilnius said.