September 10, Pozirk. Belarus’ exiled opposition cares only about “grants and funding,” not political prisoners, Alaksandar Łukašenka has told officials.
The Belarusian ruler noted that no one thanked him for signing the edicts pardoning his jailed political opponents who, he said, are currently under full control of law enforcement agencies.
The opposition is not happy with the recent pardons “because the Americans and others tell them: guys, where have you been, what is your contribution? But there has been none. Then there is no money,” his press office quoted him as saying.
“[The opposition] could have been happy, but they are preoccupied with proving to themselves and others abroad that they made a huge contribution and ‘forced the dictator’ to make such decisions,” he noted.
“Nobody can force me, it is impossible. . . . I have never made decisions under orders or pressure.”
Łukašenka pardoned about 80 political prisoners in the last two months, but more than a 1,000, including key political figures, remain in jail.
