Trump appoints John Kohl as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs

US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday the appointment of John Kohl, an attorney and current envoy to Belarus, as the new special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.

Kohl is credited with securing the release of hundreds of prisoners after holding talks with Minsk for over a year.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 15 prisoners last month following these discussions, according to Reuters.

Trump stated on Truth Social that Kohl had brought back more than 65 Americans and citizens of allied countries from Belarus over the past year, and had negotiated the release of over 800 political prisoners from several Eastern European countries.

Kohl succeeds Adam Buller, who secured the return of 196 hostages and helped secure the release of a former US Marine from Russia last August.

Trump added that Buller will continue to serve as a senior adviser on other matters.