Łukašenka says to keep releasing political prisoners

September 28, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka told students in Minsk yesterday that he will continue to pardon those convicted of what he called extremist crimes.
“This is the constitutional duty of the president,” he said, as quoted by his press office.
“Those who repented and promised to change their position and not disturb other people” will be released, Łukašenka said, adding that “sometimes they break their obligations.”
He went on to say that he was not pressured into pardoning political prisoners.
“Nobody asked me and there was no exchange. We looked into the issue. One was sick, [Belarusian Popular Front chairman Ryhor] Kastusioŭ. He and [lawyer Juryj] Ziankovič wanted to shoot down the president’s landing helicopter, etc. What did you get yourself into? Cancer was discovered. Why keep him in prison? We released him and others who are sick, lame, etc. So, we released them for purely humanitarian reasons,” he said.
The Belarusian ruler has pardoned 115 political prisoners so far. There are 1,325 documented political prisoners in Belarus.
Łukašenka fears his exiled opponents may storm into Belarus
- Economy, SocietyLithuania intercepts two drones carrying Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Belarusians stand with Ukraine, Cichanoŭskaja saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka greets Ukrainians on Independence Day, predicts restoration of “friendly bonds”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEDB says Belarus’ economic growth this year may exceed its forecastThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyForest fire spreads from Ukraine into BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian troops practice assault operations in joint exercise in ChinaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPolice arrest suspected jewelry store robberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Society
- Politics, Society
- PoliticsInstances of political persecution reported on August 21The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus declares Polish Catholic website extremist contentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPolice hunting for gunman after jewelry store robbery in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus bracing for heat, windstorms on August 22The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMyanmar’s embassy opens in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecuritySputnik deletes report claiming that KGB has been alerted to anti-Belarus plot in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyShare of unprofitable companies grows to 20 percent in five years, official statisticians sayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityKGB alerted to anti-Belarus plot in Poland, Russia's Sputnik claimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry adds famous rock singer, environmentalists to its list of extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+



