Belarus frees 25 prisoners; US lifts sanctions on two firms in exchange

Belarus released 25 prisoners, including journalist Andrej Aljaksandrau and his wife Irina Zlobina, after US envoy John Coale met President Lukashenko in Minsk. In return, Washington removed sanctions on a paint producer and a forestry/pulp state company. This marks a rare US-Belarus prisoner-for-sanctions deal, signaling possible thaw in relations.