Alexander Lukashenko called the freezing of $43-44 million in Belarusian funds at Citibank ‘a disgrace for the United States.’ Now U.S. officials have asked the bank to release the money.

U.S. officials have asked Citibank to release Belarusian funds frozen at the bank. “We have requested from them as to why they have not released the money,” said U.S. presidential envoy John Coale, who met with Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on September 15.