Łukašenka says to keep releasing political prisoners

September 28, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka told students in Minsk yesterday that he will continue to pardon those convicted of what he called extremist crimes.
“This is the constitutional duty of the president,” he said, as quoted by his press office.
“Those who repented and promised to change their position and not disturb other people” will be released, Łukašenka said, adding that “sometimes they break their obligations.”
He went on to say that he was not pressured into pardoning political prisoners.
“Nobody asked me and there was no exchange. We looked into the issue. One was sick, [Belarusian Popular Front chairman Ryhor] Kastusioŭ. He and [lawyer Juryj] Ziankovič wanted to shoot down the president’s landing helicopter, etc. What did you get yourself into? Cancer was discovered. Why keep him in prison? We released him and others who are sick, lame, etc. So, we released them for purely humanitarian reasons,” he said.
The Belarusian ruler has pardoned 115 political prisoners so far. There are 1,325 documented political prisoners in Belarus.
Łukašenka fears his exiled opponents may storm into Belarus
- PoliticsLithuania allocates €45,000 to cover legal fees in lawsuit against BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SecurityChrenin claims “collective West” may be preparing attacks on Belarus, RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, Security
- Poland extends no-go zone at Belarus border until SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRussia said to account for 91 percent of light industry conglomerate’s exportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyNearly 30 children hospitalized in Barysaŭ with food poisoningThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyTraffic accidents involving animals said to be on the rise in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- SocietyBelarus reports seizing military equipment parts smuggled from Russia to EUThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ gold and foreign exchange reserves reported down 1.5 percent in MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolitical trials, arrests, searches reported in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyIrregular Belarus-EU crossings peak in May, Latvia primary targetThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus’ top diplomat discusses food security with minister from North KoreaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCichanoŭskaja’s aide calls for solidarity with EHU amid raids on students’ families in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka, Putin hold phone talks days after meeting in AstanaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportInternational Fencing Federation lifts all restrictions on Belarus’ athletesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyViasna: police harassing families of blacklisted university’s studentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+



