Christopher Smith and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya / прэс-служба Ціханоўскай
The American top official overseeing the Belarus portfolio is leaving his post. As learned by the outlet "Zerkalo," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Smith will be changing jobs in the near future.
At the U.S. State Department, Smith currently handles Eastern Europe issues. He participated in negotiations between the U.S. and Lukashenko that resulted in the release of political prisoners.
The official has held his position since 2023.
Direct responsibility for communication between the White House and Lukashenko today rests with Donald Trump's special envoy John Coal. He was appointed in November 2025. A presidential special envoy cannot hold the position for more than 360 days without Senate confirmation. Coal has not yet gone through this procedure.
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