Former U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, discussing the upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressing gratitude for the release of 16 political prisoners.
Trump Talks to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko
On Friday, August 15, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had a fruitful conversation with the highly respected President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. He thanked him for releasing 16 political prisoners and also discussed plans for an upcoming meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, stating his desire to meet Lukashenko in the future.
14 Political Prisoners Released After U.S. Delegation Visit
Following the visit of a U.S. envoy to Belarus, 14 political detainees were freed, including Siarhiej Cichanouski, the husband of Svetlana Cichanouska.
Lukashenko Meets U.S. Special Envoy Kellogg
In June, Alexander Lukashenko met in Minsk with Keir Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. This marked the first visit by a senior American official to Belarus since February 2020, when former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared in Minsk. Soon after that meeting, Belarus freed 14 political prisoners.
Belarus Still Holds Around 1,300 Political Prisoners
Despite recent releases, analysts estimate that around 1,300 individuals sentenced in political cases continue to be imprisoned in Belarusian jails and penal colonies.
