World

Trump’s Diplomatic Gambit: How the US President Secured Prisoner Releases in Belarus

Belarus pardoned 52 prisoners, including 14 foreigners, at Trump’s request, signaling thawing US-Belarus ties.

September 11, 2025, 12:53 PM

Alexander Lukashenko sits at a table with the flag of Belarus visible behind him

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is shown during a meeting with Ukrainian President Poroshenko in Gomel, Belarus. By Drop of Light / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Belarus pardoned 52 prisoners, including 14 foreign nationals, and released them into neighboring Lithuania.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko attributed the pardons to a direct request from President Trump, following a meeting with a representative of Trump.

The pardons coincide with reports of the US lifting sanctions on Belarus’ state-run airline Belavia and an intent to reopen the US embassy in Minsk, signaling potential shifts in US-Belarus diplomatic relations.

The Story So Far

The recent pardons of 52 prisoners by Belarus were a direct consequence of President Trump’s personal request and diplomatic engagement, which included a meeting between Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and a representative of Trump. This development signals a potential shift in US-Belarus relations, reportedly involving the lifting of US sanctions on Belarus’s state-run airline, Belavia, and discussions about reopening the US embassy in Minsk, with Belarus framing the pardons as a gesture of goodwill.

Why This Matters

The pardoning of 52 prisoners by Belarus, reportedly at the direct request of President Trump, signals a potential thawing of diplomatic relations between the United States and Belarus, which could lead to the lifting of US sanctions on Belarusian state entities and the reopening of the US embassy in Minsk, despite continued concerns about the more than 1,000 political prisoners reportedly remaining in Belarus.

Who Thinks What?

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that the pardons of 52 prisoners, including 14 foreign nationals, were granted at the direct request of President Donald Trump, and publicly thanked him for efforts toward peace.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda confirmed the prisoners safely crossed into Lithuania and expressed gratitude to the United States and President Trump for their involvement, while noting that over 1,000 political prisoners reportedly remain.

President Donald Trump, through his representative John Coale, requested the pardons and reportedly indicated the lifting of sanctions on Belarus’ state-run airline, Belavia, and the US’s intent to reopen its embassy in Minsk.

Belarus has pardoned 52 prisoners, releasing them into neighboring Lithuania, a development confirmed by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and attributed by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to a direct request from President Donald Trump. The pardons, which include 14 foreign nationals, follow a meeting between Lukashenko and a representative of President Trump, signaling potential shifts in diplomatic relations between the United States and Belarus.

Prisoner Releases and Diplomatic Engagement

President Nausėda stated that the 52 prisoners safely crossed the Lithuanian border, expressing his personal gratitude to the United States and to President Trump for their involvement. Despite these releases, Nausėda noted that more than 1,000 political prisoners reportedly remain in Belarusian prisons.

According to his presidential pool, Lukashenko announced that the released individuals included 14 foreign nationals, among them six Lithuanians, two Latvians, two Poles, two Germans, one French national, and one from the United Kingdom. He specified that these pardons were granted “at the request of the President of the United States.”

US-Belarus Relations and Sanctions

The pardons were announced subsequent to a meeting between Lukashenko and John Coale, identified as a representative of President Trump. During this meeting, the Belarusian presidential office reported that Washington was lifting sanctions on Belarus’ state-run airline, Belavia. Coale also indicated the US’s intent to reopen its embassy in Minsk, though a specific timeline was not provided.

Belarusian authorities stated that Coale delivered a letter from President Trump and the American first lady to Lukashenko, conveying well wishes. The letter was accompanied by a gift of cufflinks featuring an image of the White House.

International Reactions and Humanitarian Grounds

Lukashenko publicly thanked President Trump for his efforts toward peace, particularly within the region. Russian state media reported that the pardons were carried out on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of goodwill, following requests from President Trump and other international leaders.

While a comprehensive list of all pardoned prisoners has not been officially released, human rights organizations and independent Belarusian media have documented the release of several prominent political prisoners. These include Mikola Statkevich, a former Belarusian presidential candidate, activist and philosopher Uladzimir Matskevich, and Lithuanian citizen Elena Romanauskiene.

The release of these prisoners, facilitated by the involvement of President Trump, marks a notable moment in the diplomatic relationship between Belarus and the United States, alongside the reported lifting of sanctions and discussions of embassy reopening.