July 2, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has pardoned eight women and eight men, including three prisoners over 50, who had been convicted of “extremist” crimes, his press office reports.
The move follows the Belarusian ruler’s hints that he may soon pardon more political prisoners.
“Look, I can already see it. In a few days, maybe a week or a month. . . I won’t talk about it publicly,” he told an Independence Day grand rally yesterday.
On June 21 he pardoned prominent opposition politician Siarhiej Cichanoŭski and 13 other prisoners after meeting with Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, in Minsk.
The Belarusian ruler acknowledged that not everyone in his close circle supported pardons with some unnamed officials suggesting that political prisoners should be held behind bars until they die.
“Is it our goal for them to die there? God forbid, of course,” he said, noting that he would have to take the blame.
“That is why we treat them normally. Prison is not a resort, but abuse is unacceptable. These are bad people, beasts and criminals, but I believe that they are humans, and I am always looking for a way so that it won’t be worse for us and good for them. Look, I can already see it. In a few days, maybe a week or a month. . . I won’t talk about it publicly.”
“If they all drop dead there, it would not be easy for us and we would be accused of [killing]. . . we need to calm down and think about the future, our goals and our state,” he added.
He said that the released opponents, whom he described as “bandits,” would not “blow up the country” immediately. “In this complex political situation, we must stand firm, hold our ground and under no circumstances compromise our interests,” he stressed.
The Belarusian security services keep an eye on all dangerous individuals, Łukašenka reassured the gathering.
The Belarusian strongman started releasing small groups of people convicted of extremism-related crimes on politically-motivated charges one year ago. He has pardoned more than 300 since then.
