Alexander Lukashenko, the dictator of Belarus, has pardoned eighteen people held in prisons. According to various sources, most or all of those pardoned are political prisoners, convicted after the 2020 protests or for opposition activities. The decision was announced by Lukashenko's administration, but there is no official statement from the dictator himself. The case highlights the ongoing repression against the democratic opposition in the country, which remains a close ally of Russia on the international stage. The number of those released raises some doubts, as media reports provide conflicting data.

Pardon of Eighteen Individuals

The administration of Alexander Lukashenko announced the pardon of eighteen individuals held in Belarusian prisons. The decision concerns convicts, the majority of whom are political prisoners.

Political Prisoners Post-2020

Those released are convicts whose arrests are linked to the mass protests against the fraudulent presidential elections in 2020 and subsequent opposition and anti-government activities.

Reaction and International Context

The pardon decision may be seen as a gesture towards the international community, but it does not change the overall regime of repression in Belarus. The country remains isolated and under strong Western sanctions.

Discrepancies in Reports

Inaccuracies have emerged regarding the exact number of those released. While most sources mention 18 people, one article reports the number as 15 political prisoners.

The administration of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko announced the pardon of eighteen people held in prisons. According to media reports, a significant number, if not all, of those released are political prisoners. These are individuals convicted in connection with the events following the 2020 presidential elections, which sparked mass protests deemed fraudulent by the international community, and for subsequent opposition activities. The decision was made public by Lukashenko's apparatus, but there is no personal address or official decree from the leader himself. This action fits into the years-long conflict between the regime and the Belarusian democratic opposition and civil society. Since the controversial 2020 elections, which kept Lukashenko in power, Belarus has plunged into a deep political and humanitarian crisis. The regime responded to peaceful protests with brutal repression, thousands of arrests, torture, and the elimination of independent media and non-governmental organizations. Political persecution has become a permanent feature of the Belarusian landscape, with the number of political prisoners estimated by human rights organizations to be in the hundreds. The news of the pardon has been met with mixed reactions. On one hand, it may be seen as a small gesture of mercy, possibly motivated by a desire to improve its image internationally or as a response to pressure. On the other hand, it does not change the fundamental assessment of Lukashenko's regime as authoritarian and repressive. Belarus remains a client state of Russia, involved in the aggression against Ukraine, which further isolates it from the West and subjects it to severe economic sanctions. The internal human rights situation remains dire.

Media reports have shown some discrepancy regarding the scale of the action. Three sources – "Do Rzeczy", "Nasz Dziennik", and Reuters agency – report the number of pardoned individuals as eighteen. The Lithuanian public broadcaster, Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija, however, reports the release of fifteen political prisoners. This difference may stem from variations in the classification of those covered by the act of clemency or from delays in information transmission. The Polish portal RMF FM, citing Belarusian sources, also confirms the number as eighteen and specifies that most of them are indeed political prisoners. This ambiguity underscores the difficulties in verifying facts in an environment controlled by the regime, where access to independent information is severely limited.

Mentioned People