**US Diplomats Visit Belarus, Release Political Prisoners**
A group of US officials, led by Deputy Assistant State Secretary Christopher W. Smith, visited Belarus on February 12. This was an unannounced meeting that could end the isolation of President Alexander Lukashenko from the West.
Belarus has been cut off from the West since Lukashenko’s crackdown on mass protests in 2020. The country’s authorities have since suppressed political freedoms and supported Russia’s war against Ukraine.
**US Offers Deal to Belarus**
The US is willing to ease sanctions on Belarusian banks and potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer, if Lukashenko releases an undefined number of political prisoners. This deal was proposed by the US as part of its efforts to negotiate with Belarusian authorities.
**Releasing Political Prisoners**
Alena Movshuk, a Belarusian activist, and Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist for Radio Free Europe, were among those released from prison. Franak Viacorka, Senior Advisor to opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya, confirmed their release.
**US Goals in Belarus**
According to Smith, the US aims to secure freedom for more political prisoners. He also stated that Lukashenko assured him of a decrease in repression in Belarus and expressed his desire for the country to be less reliant on Russia.
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