Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 20 individuals labeled as political prisoners by rights activists. This move comes amidst ongoing suppression of political opponents leading up to the upcoming presidential elections, which are expected to extend Lukashenko’s long-standing rule. The identities of those released were not disclosed by Belarusian officials, but the individuals were said to have been convicted of “crimes of an extremist nature.” The group included 11 women and 14 individuals with chronic illnesses. The presidential administration stated that all those released had expressed remorse for their actions and asked for clemency.
This announcement marks the eighth such pardon by Lukashenko since the summer of 2024, with a total of 207 political prisoners having been released according to Belarus’ oldest human rights organization, Viasna. Many of these individuals were detained following large-scale anti-government demonstrations in 2020 that erupted after Lukashenko’s controversial re-election, widely condemned as fraudulent. Despite the release of these prisoners, over 1,250 individuals are still in custody, including prominent opposition figures like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialatski and political activists Siarhei Tsikhanouski and Viktar Babaryka.
The pardons come amid a renewed crackdown on dissent as Belarus prepares for a new round of presidential elections in January 2025, where Lukashenko is expected to secure a seventh consecutive term in office. The election commission has authorized only seven politicians loyal to Lukashenko to collect signatures to oppose him in the upcoming elections. Activists like Pavel Sapelka from Viasna noted that while some political prisoners may have been released, the overall level of repression in Belarus has increased, with authorities trying to suppress any form of dissent ahead of the upcoming elections.
The Belarusian government has been criticized for its treatment of political prisoners, with reports of harsh conditions including denial of legal and family visits, as well as lack of medical care. At least seven political prisoners have died in custody since 2020, further fueling concerns about the human rights situation in the country. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for over three decades, maintains close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, providing support for Russian military actions such as the incursion into Ukraine and deployment of nuclear weapons. The international community continues to monitor the situation in Belarus closely, calling for the release of all political prisoners and respect for basic human rights.
