Belarus frees Nobel winner Bialiatski and key opposition figures in deal with U.S.

Bialiatski told Reuters he had spent the previous night on a prison bunk in a room with nearly 40 people, and was still getting to grips with the idea of being free. The exiled Belarusian opposition expressed gratitude to Trump and said the fact ⁠that Lukashenko had agreed to release prisoners in return for the concessions on potash was proof of the effectiveness of sanctions. "The United States stands ready for additional engagement with Belarus that advances U.S. interests and ‍will continue to pursue diplomatic efforts to free remaining political prisoners in Belarus," the U.S. embassy in Lithuania said.