Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has granted clemency to 30 individuals who were serving prison sentences for offenses related to protests, marking the third instance of such pardons in the past three months. The names of the released prisoners have not been disclosed, but the group reportedly includes seven women. Lukashenko's press service stated that all those who were pardoned had acknowledged their guilt, expressed genuine remorse, and committed to living law-abiding lives.
Belarus currently detains approximately 1,400 political prisoners, among them notable figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut. Tragically, at least six political detainees have lost their lives while in custody, as reported by the Viasna human rights center.
Previous instances of pardons by Lukashenko include the release of 30 individuals, including journalists and activists suffering from severe illnesses, in the preceding month. In July, 18 political prisoners were also freed, including Ryhor Kastusiou, the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, who is battling advanced cancer.
The year 2020 witnessed widespread protests in Belarus following a controversial election that secured Lukashenko a sixth term in office, a vote widely condemned as fraudulent by the opposition and Western nations. Since the onset of the protests, an estimated 65,000 individuals have been arrested, with hundreds of thousands fleeing the country.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed gratitude for the recent pardons but highlighted the plight of numerous innocent political prisoners still incarcerated, including her husband Siarhei, serving a lengthy sentence for his role in organizing the 2020 demonstrations. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized the ongoing repression within Belarus and called for sustained international pressure to secure the release of all political detainees.
According to the Viasna human rights center, at least 33 activists are set to face trial in Belarus this week alone for their involvement in protests. Over the past three months, more than 200 individuals have been sentenced for participating in demonstrations.
Analysts suggest that Lukashenko's recent pardons may be aimed at enhancing his public image ahead of the upcoming presidential campaign in 2025. Despite the releases, concerns persist as new individuals are swiftly detained to fill the vacated prison spaces, indicating a lack of genuine liberalization within the Belarusian authorities.
The move to free political prisoners is viewed as a strategic gesture by Belarusian officials to project a more favorable image to the West in anticipation of the 2025 presidential election, in which Lukashenko has declared his intention to participate for the seventh time.
