Minsk, Belarus: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has granted pardons to 32 political prisoners, including those convicted of “extremist crimes.”
The office reported that 17 of those pardoned are suffering from chronic illnesses, and nine are over 50 years old. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will oversee their compliance with the law. This move marks the sixth round of pardons since July, releasing a total of 178 prisoners, according to human rights groups.
However, critics argue that political repression continues, with over 1,200 individuals still imprisoned since the 2020 protests, sparked by allegations of electoral fraud after Lukashenko’s disputed re-election.
Among the remaining prisoners, many were convicted for insulting the president or criticizing his government. The Viasna human rights group reports that as of mid-November, there were at least 1,275 political prisoners, with hundreds facing harsh conditions in penal colonies.
Despite these pardons, repression has only intensified ahead of the 2025 presidential election.
The Belarusian authorities have escalated their crackdown, with over 1,200 new administrative cases, primarily related to “spreading extremist material,” being heard in courts.
Political opponents, including Maria Kalesnikava, have suffered from imprisonment under harsh conditions, with Kalesnikava recently seen in a prison hospital in photos that were the first to emerge about her condition in 20 months.
The struggle for those released has been equally difficult. Former political prisoners in exile report that life remains difficult in Belarus, with surveillance continuing and challenges in finding employment due to their political past.
These continued human rights violations underscore the ongoing tension between Lukashenko’s government and the international community.
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