00:02Belarus has released 25 political prisoners in exchange of the U.S. lifting sanctions
00:08on two Belarusian companies in a deal brockered by U.S. envoy John Cole who was in the capital
00:15Minsk. Cole said that more talks could lead to a further release of individuals.
00:34The U.S. and many other Western countries imposed sanctions on Belarus after it allowed Russia
00:40to use its territory to invade Ukraine in 2022. Washington has now eased some sanctions which
00:48affected paint manufacturer La Kokraska and forestry sector group Belzbomprom. Hundreds
00:54of people were imprisoned after mass protests in 2020, sparked by the re-election of President
01:01Alexander Lukashenko who's been in power since 1994.
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