# Kremlin says it can’t discuss sanctions relief for releasing ‘political prisoners’ because Russia has none

https://mins.news/en/item/80735

- Meduza, 2026-09-30 17:35 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/30/the-kremlin-says-it-can-t-discuss-sanctions-relief-for-freeing-political-prisoners-because-russia-has-none-the-human-rights-group-memorial-lists-1-368

> Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia has not discussed a U.S. proposal to ease sanctions in exchange for releasing political prisoners, rejecting the premise that Russia has any. The Atlantic reported that Donald Trump had approved the idea. Memorial lists 1,368 Russian political prisoners, while warning its list is incomplete; its database records more than 5,700 people held for apparently political reasons.

## Related coverage

- [Trump faces bipartisan pushback over possible Russia sanctions relief](https://mins.news/en/item/80017) — The Kyiv Independent, 2026-09-30
- [Trump backs plan to ease some US sanctions on Russia, media reports](https://mins.news/en/item/78767) — TASS, 2026-09-29
