Trump's Belarus envoy visits Lithuania to discuss political prisoners

US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, visited Lithuania on Monday and met with Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said.

Budrys thanked the Trump administration for its continued efforts to secure the release of political prisoners held by Belarusian authorities, calling it an extremely important humanitarian goal. He said Lithuania values the United States' leadership in working to restore freedom to people unlawfully imprisoned over their views and civic activities.

The Lithuanian foreign minister confirmed his country would keep providing necessary support both for US humanitarian efforts and for prisoners once released. While welcoming each release, he noted that the overall number of political prisoners in Belarus remains high and that repression of civil society continues.

Ties to Russia and migration pressure

Budrys said Belarus remains closely integrated into Russia's military and security structures, continues to support Russia's war against Ukraine, and contributes to military pressure on the West.

The two officials also discussed the challenges posed by irregular migration from Belarus. According to Budrys, after a temporary decline at the start of summer, migrant flows have begun rising again, while the scale of secondary migration through Latvia is also increasing.

Coale last visited Minsk in March, when Belarus released 250 political prisoners. Following that trip, he urged Lithuania to restore the transit of Belarusian fertilisers and hold a high-level meeting with Minsk. Independent Belarusian outlet Zerkalo reported that this week's visits aim to secure the release of another group of prisoners, potentially numbering in the hundreds.