Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced today that 29 political prisoners will be pardoned, out of the hundreds currently held in Belarusian prisons. The names of the pardoned individuals have not been disclosed, but the presidential administration revealed that 11 women and 18 men are included, with more than half suffering from disabilities or chronic illnesses, according to Radio Free Europe’s Belarusian Service.
Details of the Pardon and Conditions
The statement issued by the presidency noted that all of the pardoned individuals had expressed remorse for their actions and appealed to the head of state for clemency. Among those pardoned are six people under the age of 25, three pensioners, two individuals with disabilities, and 15 who suffer from chronic health conditions.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will reportedly “monitor the pardoned individuals to ensure they do not violate the law again.” Some individuals released in previous pardons have reported harassment from security forces.
At this time, it is unclear if any prominent activists, many of whom have been held under harsh conditions and without access to legal counsel, are among those pardoned.
Seventh Pardon of the Year
This marks the seventh political prisoner pardon in Belarus this year, bringing the total number of releases to 178 people. Human rights advocate Pavel Sapelka from the Viasna organization commented that “Lukashenko is sending contradictory signals to the West, as there are still twice as many people imprisoned as those pardoned.”
