His Excellency Karol Nawrocki
President of the Republic of Poland
Dear Mr. President,
On behalf of the Belarus Democratic Forum, we respectfully invite you to consider submitting an official nomination of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Special Envoy for Belarus John P. Coale for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of their sustained humanitarian mediation aimed at alleviating human suffering and reducing tensions in Eastern Europe.
Poland’s proximity to Belarus and its long-standing commitment to freedom, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence give it a distinctive moral voice in matters concerning political imprisonment, forced exile, and reconciliation. For Poland, the humanitarian crisis in Belarus has never been remote; it has had direct human, social, and security consequences that resonate deeply with Poland’s own historical experience.
In 2025, following prolonged international concern and repeated appeals by 75 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, a significant humanitarian breakthrough was achieved. Through direct engagement and personal mediation by President Trump, supported by the focused efforts of Special Envoy John P. Coale, more than 300 political prisoners were released from detention in Belarus, including citizens of the Republic of Poland. This represented the first sustained release of its kind in many years and marked a meaningful step toward de-escalation and dialogue.
These humanitarian efforts took place against the backdrop of severe migratory pressure along Poland’s eastern border, where human suffering was deliberately instrumentalized and resulted in profound tragedy, including the death of a Polish border guard in the line of duty. By reducing political repression and facilitating prisoner releases, this mediation contributed to easing the conditions that had fueled displacement, exploitation, and instability, thereby advancing human security and restraint in the region.
The impact of these efforts extended beyond immediate humanitarian relief. By alleviating repression and opening channels for dialogue, they contributed to a reduction in tensions along Europe’s eastern frontier. Special Envoy John P. Coale’s role in structuring these initiatives into a continuing humanitarian process has been instrumental in ensuring their durability and credibility.
We respectfully urge you to consider submitting a formal nomination to the Nobel Committee by 31 January 2026. In the year of the U.S. 250th Anniversary, a nomination from Poland would carry profound significance as a mark of respect and gratitude.
The people of Belarus, and in particular those who remain imprisoned for their peaceful civic stance, acknowledge with deep gratitude the decisive and sustained U.S. leadership, expressed through the personal engagement of President Donald J. Trump and Special Envoy John P. Coale, whose actions have made a concrete contribution to peace by alleviating human suffering, reducing tensions, and opening a credible path toward reconciliation.
With highest consideration,
Dr. Valery Tsepkalo
Founder and CEO, Belarus Hi-Tech Park, Ambassador of Belarus to the United States (1997–2002), Former First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Candidate, 2020
Dmitry Bolkunets
Secretary General, Belarus Democratic Forum