Trump's envoy Coale meets Belarus leader Lukashenko, seeking to win more prisoner releases

U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale looks on as prisoners released from Belarus arrive at the U.S. embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania December 13, 2025. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo

March 19 (Reuters) - ⁠U.S. presidential ⁠envoy John Coale met ‌Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on ​Thursday, according to ⁠the Telegram ⁠channel of Lukashenko's administration, ⁠on the ‌American's latest mission ⁠to try to negotiate ​the ‌release of political prisoners.

Coale ⁠has ​been tasked by U.S. President ⁠Donald Trump with trying ​to free what human rights groups say ⁠are more than 1,100 Belarusians currently behind bars because ​of political ⁠or human rights ​activity.

(Reporting by ‌Reuters; Writing by ​Mark Trevelyan;Editing by Alison Williams)