“Lithuanian authorities facilitated border procedures and ensured the safe transfer of the released political prisoners from the border to their place of stay. Medical teams are ready to provide assistance if needed,” the ministry said.
Belarusian state news agency Belta earlier reported that the United States would lift sanctions on Belarusian lender Belinvestbank, the Development Bank, the finance ministry and fertiliser firms Belarusian Potash Company and Belaruskali.
The agency cited US Special Envoy John Coale, who met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. Following the meeting, the release of 15–20 Belarusian political prisoners was announced.
According to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s office, 15 prisoners were expected to arrive in Vilnius.
Before travelling to Belarus, Coale visited Vilnius and met Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, who said the talks would have a positive impact on Lithuania.
She later said there were no discussions with the United States on resuming transit of Belarusian potash fertilisers through Lithuania and urged against escalating the issue.
It also emerged on Thursday that Coale met members of parliament Ignas Vėgėlė and Rimas Jonas Jankūnas, as well as MEP Petras Gražulis during his visit, according to Lrt.lt.
The politicians later confirmed the meeting but declined further comment.
In December 2025, the US special envoy to Belarus announced that the United States was lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilisers and that discussions on sanctions would continue.
Sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilisers were imposed by US President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021, a year after the Belarusian presidential race, in which Alexander Lukashenko declared victory and cracked down on protesters.
At the time, all US individuals and entities were required to complete transactions with the Belarusian potash producer Belaruskali.
The European Union also sanctioned Belarusian fertilisers in 2022.