Belarus frees 52 political prisoners as U.S. lifts sanctions on its national air airline

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Belarus freed 52 political prisoners Thursday as the U.S. lifted sanctions on the country’s national airline in a diplomatic exchange.

The prisoner release represents Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko’s ongoing effort to mend ties with the West amid international isolation.

Despite the releases, over 1,000 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, according to human rights groups.

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Belarus freed 52 political prisoners on Thursday, as the United States announced it was lifting sanctions on the isolated country’s national airline.

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has been repeatedly slapped with Western sanctions both for its authoritarian governmen