{"id":144943,"date":"2025-07-02T12:03:33","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T09:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/144943\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"lukasenka-pardons-16-political-prisoners-11-days-after-releasing-14","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/144943\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka pardons 16 political prisoners 11 days after releasing 14"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (research.uga.edu)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

July 2, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has pardoned eight women and eight men, including three prisoners over 50, who had been convicted of \u201cextremist\u201d crimes, his press office reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move follows the Belarusian ruler\u2019s hints that he may soon pardon more political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 21 he pardoned prominent opposition politician Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski and 13 other prisoners after meeting with Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump\u2019s special envoy for Ukraine, in Minsk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Is it our goal for them to die there? God forbid, of course,\u201d he said, noting that he would have to take the blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat 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\u2019t 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that the released opponents, whom he described as \u201cbandits,\u201d would not \u201cblow up the country\u201d immediately. \u201cIn this complex political situation, we must stand firm, hold our ground and under no circumstances compromise our interests,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian security services keep an eye on all dangerous individuals, \u0141uka\u0161enka reassured the gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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