Overview
- The U.S. Treasury authorized dealings with Belaruskali, Belarusian Potash Company and Agrorozkvit, easing potash sanctions and lowering risk for non‑EU buyers.
- Belarus pardoned and released 123 detainees, including Maria Kolesnikova, Viktar Babariko, Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski and journalist Marina Zolotova, with an American and five Ukrainians among those freed and Minsk saying Kyiv later released detainees in response.
- EU officials are moving to renew and expand sanctions on Belarus and continue to bar transport of Belarusian potash to EU ports, rejecting calls to mirror Washington’s relief.
- U.S. envoy John Coale said Lukashenko offered "advice" on Vladimir Putin that he described as useful for ongoing discussions related to ending the war in Ukraine.
- Rights group Viasna reports roughly 1,200 political prisoners remain in Belarus, and freed dissidents say repression has not eased.