Belarusian strongman issues new pardons as political arrests continue
December 28, Pozirk. An edict pardoning 20 more people who committed “extremist” crimes has been signed, Alaksandar Łukašenka’s press office reported today.
They include 11 women. Fourteen people have chronic diseases. Ten are parents (one woman has four kids).
According to the report, “all of them petitioned for pardon and repented of their deeds.”
“The Ministry of Internal Affairs will monitor their behavior after the release,” it said.
It is the eighth group of pardonees in the last six months. In early July, Łukašenka announced the release of his critically ill opponents, after which 18 political prisoners reportedly gained freedom. Later he issued more pardons, bringing the number of the forgiven to 227.
At the same time, authorities continue to arrest people for political reasons and courts often issue sentences in politically-motivated trials, according to rights activists. The repression has intensified in the run-up to January’s presidential election.
The Belarusian human rights community currently recognizes 1,253 people as political prisoners, but the actual number of the repressed is significantly higher.
Officials deny the existence of political prisoners in Belarus, arguing that its Criminal Code does not contain any “political” articles. At the same time, they use extremism, incitement, disorder and similar charges for reprisals.
US Embassy calls for release of all Belarusian political prisoners
December 19, Pozirk. The United States Embassy in Belarus has welcomed the release of more than 200 political prisoners since early July and urged Belarusian authorities to free all of them. "The winter holidays are a wonderful opportunity to gather …