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Story summary
- Belarus will free 25 political prisoners in exchange for U.S. sanctions relief on two firms.
- U.S. special envoy John Coale announced the deal while meeting President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
- The United States will lift sanctions on paint maker Lakokraska and forestry firm Bellesbumprom.
- Released detainees include journalist Andrei Alyaksandrau, his wife Iryna Zlobina, and Liudmila Chekina.
- Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the freed prisoners were taken to Lithuania.
