Jailed protesters can be pardoned and freed – prosecutor general

September 6, BPN. Citizens convicted in politically motivated cases can be released on pardon, follows from the statement made by Prosecutor General Andrej Švied on September 6, after a meeting with Alaksandr Łukašenka.

“Despite the rather principled position of the Prosecutor General’s Office that the amnesty should not apply to those persons who encroached on the sovereignty, independence and constitutional order of our country, the head of state instructed us to take a balanced, case-by-case approach to this issue, primarily through the institution of pardon,” the Prosecutor General’s Office quoted Švied as saying.

“Those who have committed extremism-related crimes, who encroached on our state, who raised their hand against law enforcers can be released. But only those who have repented, realized and consider it possible to appeal to the president for a pardon,” Švied added.

Authorities plan to release more than 8,000 inmates as part of the upcoming amnesty program, he said. The list of offences to be covered by an amnesty law would be compiled soon, Švied said.

At the September 6 meeting, Łukašenka warned officials against freeing “bandits and extremists.” Authorities use the latter label with reference to people imprisoned for exercising freedom of expression, including through peaceful protest.

“Relief is permissible only for those who really deserve it,” the Belarusian ruler said. “Justice must be at the heart: bandits and extremists are not in these ranks! Especially those who tried to derail our trains, prepared terrorist acts and tried to kill our citizens,” he said.