Overview

• On July 31, Alexander Lukashenko publicly challenged Western governments to accept several thousand political prisoners in exchange for concessions.
• The regime has freed over 300 political detainees since early 2025, including blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski following talks with a US special envoy.
• Human rights center Viasna estimates that more than 60,000 people have been imprisoned on politically motivated charges since the 2020 election.
• The government has systematically erased digital traces of the 2020 protests by shutting independent media outlets and labeling all dissent as extremist.
• Western officials have declined to lift major sanctions so far, prompting experts to warn that the regime retains significant bargaining power.