Envoy John Coale says the United States wants to reopen its embassy in Belarus. Photo: AP PHOTO

Belarus has freed 52 prisoners of various nationalities including a European Union employee after an appeal from US President Donald Trump, and they headed to Lithuania with the US delegation that negotiated their release, the US embassy in Vilnius says.

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Trump had urged Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to release detainees whom the US leader has described as "hostages".

Belarus later confirmed their release.

In return for Lukashenko

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