Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 23 political prisoners ahead of the scheduled presidential elections on January 26, as reported by Radio Free Europe, citing AFP. According to the Belarusian state news agency BelTA, Lukashenko signed the decree for the pardons because “all of them repented and requested clemency from the head of state.”
“All of them repented and requested clemency from the head of state. Among them are three women and 20 men. Of these, 13 individuals are over 50 years old, 14 have chronic illnesses, and 12 have children; one man is a father of many children,” stated BelTA, citing information from Lukashenko’s office.
Human rights organizations estimate that there are over 1,000 political prisoners in Belarus, including protest leaders and opponents of Lukashenko who were arrested in 2020, according to RFE and AFP. The official statement claims that the prisoners committed “extremist-oriented crimes.”
The identities of the pardoned individuals have not been disclosed, and it remains uncertain whether any prominent opposition figures are among them.
Political prisoners in Belarus are reportedly held under harsh conditions, often denied access to lawyers or contact with their families.
Over 200 people have been released in a series of pardons over the past six months, coinciding with the elections on January 26, where Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, is expected to win again.
Lukashenko will not face real opposition in these elections. During a visit to a factory last week, he said he saw no point in participating in debates and that he even does not follow the election campaign, according to RFE.
