Alexander Lukashenko Photo: Global Look Press
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced on Monday the pardon of 37 individuals imprisoned on charges of “extremism” – a term widely used by the regime to label its political opponents, according to reports from AFP and Reuters via the Belarusian state news agency BelTA.
Among those pardoned were six women and several individuals with severe health issues, though their identities were not disclosed in the official statement.
According to the human rights group Viasna, Belarus currently holds over 1,300 political prisoners. The latest pardons follow similar actions earlier this year when Lukashenko released 30 political detainees in early September and another 30 in mid-August.
Lukashenko, who has held power for more than 30 years, has repeatedly cracked down on opposition movements. In February, he signaled his intention to run for another term in the upcoming elections next year.
Over the past four years, thousands of people have been arrested, with opposition figures, activists, and journalists sentenced to long prison terms. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have fled the country, with many seeking refuge in neighboring Poland.
Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, currently in exile, warned that over 200 political prisoners are in “critical health conditions,” with their lives “in serious danger” while in prison.
