Belarusian strongman pardons 20 as political arrests continue

December 28, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has signed an edict pardoning 20 more people convicted of extremism-related crimes, his press office announced today.
The group includes 11 women, 14 people have chronic diseases and 10 parents (one woman has four children).
“All of them petitioned for pardon and repented of their deeds,”
“The Ministry of Internal Affairs will monitor their behavior after the release,” it said.
It is the eighth group granted clemency in the last six months. In early July, Łukašenka announced the release of his critically ill opponents, after which 18 political prisoners were released. Later he issued more pardons, bringing the number of the forgiven to 227.
At the same time, authorities continue to arrest people for political reasons and courts often issue sentences in politically-motivated trials, according to rights activists. The repression has intensified in the run-up to January’s presidential election.
The Belarusian human rights groups have identified 1,253 political prisoners, but the actual number is significantly higher.
Officials deny the existence of political prisoners in Belarus, arguing that its Criminal Code does not contain any “political” articles. The government uses extremism, incitement, disorder and similar charges for politically-motivated reprisals.

US Embassy calls for release of all Belarusian political prisoners
- PoliticsGeorgia appoints officer suspected of intimidating journalist as attaché to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsTusk urges potential irregular migrants not to believe Łukašenka and PutinThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyNumber of people deprived of parental rights has risen by almost 30 percent in three yearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, Politics
- PoliticsThree Minskers charged with treason for unauthorized sociological surveysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency Q1 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCichanoŭskaja announces task force meeting on easing Belarusians' stay in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsBelarusian diplomat lobbying for parliamentary cooperation with SlovakiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsBelarusian envoy promotes agricultural ties with ZambiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsPolish Sejm: Belarus' election result does not reflect will of the peopleThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsWoman to stand trial over money transfers to jailed regime criticsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRussian consulate moves into building seized from dissolved Polish NGO in HrodnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: another jailed regime critic accused of disobedienceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka establishes Economic Court of AppealThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecuritySecurity chief accuses neighbors of building up forces at Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvian legislature passes new entry requirements for BelarusiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsImprisoned opposition activist Kulša charged days before releaseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus to press criminal charges against foreign officials for alleged mistreatment of migrantsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEuropean Parliament slams Łukašenka's reprisals against Belarusians abroad – ŁatuškaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRubel up 10 percent against US dollar at cash exchange offices since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSeimas committee backs additional restrictions for BelarusiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyWarsaw moves to tighten criteria for Pole’s Card to prevent abuseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- SocietyPolice seize rare custom-made Belgian rifle, file criminal charges against hunterThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyDozens of foreigners arrested while crossing irregularly from Belarus into PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+