Belarus frees 25 prisoners after US envoy's visit

Belarus on Wednesday freed 25 political prisoners as the United States lifts sanctions on two of the reclusive country's companies, US envoy John Coale announced after his latest visit to Minsk.

Washington has re-opened dialogue with Minsk and eased some sanctions, with Coale's visits leading to several prisoner releases since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Among them were several journalists, including the former head of Belarus's now closed news website Tut.by Lyudmila Chekina.

Reporters Andrei Alexandrov and Irina Zlobina, who were among the group. Trump's administration restarted contact with Minsk last year in a move that came as Washington tries to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine.