The US administration has informed the Belarusian opposition in exile that efforts to secure the release of political prisoners held by Alexander Lukashenko's regime are slowing down. This was stated by opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in an interview with Reuters.
According to her, US authorities indicated that the next releases of detainees were "postponed for some time." This announcement constitutes the first public confirmation of a slowdown in negotiations led by US Special Envoy John Coale, within the framework of an indirect dialogue with Minsk.
These discussions had so far led to the release of more than 400 political prisoners, according to information relayed by the opposition. However, human rights organizations estimate that approximately 870 people remain imprisoned in Belarus, including at least 170 considered particularly vulnerable due to their health or conditions of detention.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya indicated that the American side had not provided a specific reason for the delay. She nevertheless emphasized that this type of diplomatic process remains fragile and dependent on numerous political factors.
In her statements, the opposition leader also stressed the humanitarian urgency of the situation, stating that any slowdown in negotiations could have serious consequences for the most vulnerable detainees.
These developments come as discussions between Washington and Minsk remain sensitive, amid international sanctions and persistent tensions between Belarus, the United States and the European Union.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.