On Saturday, Lukashenko convicted 23 people – three women and 20 men – convicted of extremist crimes. As reported by the Belarusian state press agency Belta, “among those pardoned, 13 have over 50 years14 suffers from chronic diseases12 ma kidsone of whom is a father of many children.
“The decision was made based on the principles of humanism. Those pardoned have a chance to return to normal life. The Ministry of Interior will ensure control over their law-abiding behavior“- noted the Belarusian agency.
The AFP news agency reported that the identities of the people released as a result of Saturday's pardon had not been made public and it was unclear whether any of them were prominent opposition figures. AFP points to this difficult conditionswhere Belarusian prisoners are held – often without access to lawyers or contact with relatives at large.
Presidential elections in Belarus. Lukashenko convinced of victory
The date of pardon is not accidental. International media indicate that Lukashenko made this move a week before presidential elections on Belarus. On January 26, the leader intends to secure the extension of his regime.
“Lukashenko will have no real competition in this race, and during his visit to the factory last week he said he saw no point in holding debates and in fact does not follow the election campaign“- emphasizes AFP.
Aleksandr Lukashenka about Andrzej Poczobuta. Poland's decisive reaction
The conversation with journalists mentioned by the agency took place at a motorcycle factory in the Minsk Technology Park. During this meeting, Lukashenko raised the issue of a journalist and activist of the Polish minority – Andrzej Poczobut.
– When it comes to Poczobut, I don't even have anything to say. I tell you honestly as an informed person: The Poles gave up on Poczobut. They refused to even talk about him. As they inform me, Poczobut doesn't even want to go there. That's the whole point, he said Alyaksandr Lukashenko.
The spokesman of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to the words of the Belarusian leader. – If the dictator of Belarus, Lukashenko, says he doesn't know what to do with Poczobut, I will tell him what needs to be done. Above all should release him from prison – he said Paweł Wroński in an interview with the Belarusian independent portal Zierkało.
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