Belarus President pardons 20 accused of ‘extremist crimes’ News
Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Belarus President pardons 20 accused of ‘extremist crimes’

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko announced on Saturday that he has pardoned 20 individuals accused of committing “extremist crimes.” Human rights activists have identified these individuals as political prisoners.

This latest act of clemency marks the eighth such pardon since the summer of 2024, bringing the total number of political prisoners released to 207. According to the statement, the pardoned individuals reportedly include 11 women and 14 individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, further highlighting that 10 of the pardoned individuals have children, with one woman being a mother of four.

This move comes as Belarus prepares for presidential elections scheduled for January 2025. Despite the pardons, intense scrutiny has been directed towards Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko due to his severe treatment of dissenters.  Several reports indicate that political prisoners face torture, contributing to a climate of fear.

The United Nations has characterized the human rights situation in Belarus as “catastrophic,” highlighting a systematic purge of civil society and a crackdown on dissenting voices.

Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994 with an authoritarian grip. His administration has been characterized by crackdowns on opposition figures and media, particularly after the country’s 2020 protests.

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