Trump Envoy Coale Won Release of 14 Belarus Prisoners, Citing Humor and Vodka
Updated
Updated · Букви · Aug 23
Trump Envoy Coale Won Release of 14 Belarus Prisoners, Citing Humor and Vodka
3 articles · Updated · Букви · Aug 23
Summary
John Coale said his personal rapport with Alexander Lukashenko helped win the release of 14 Belarusian opposition figures after more than six hours of talks in Minsk in June 2025.
Coale, 79, said he used jokes, blunt banter and vodka-fueled dinners to lower tensions, adding that Lukashenko even agreed after one toast to free one more American than previously planned.
The envoy said the broader understanding tied releases of more than 500 political prisoners to eased U.S. sanctions and turned Lukashenko into an unofficial U.S.-Russia communication channel.
Critics say the deals reward an authoritarian system that keeps jailing new dissidents as others are freed, turning political prisoners into bargaining chips.
Coale said he wants to finish the remaining Belarus cases before pursuing a Dmitry Muratov-backed civilian prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.