{"id":137091,"date":"2025-05-07T14:56:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T11:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/137091\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"lukasenka-approves-victory-day-amnesty","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/137091\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka approves Victory Day amnesty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 7, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka has signed into law an amnesty program in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, his press office reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MPs approved the amnesty bill on April 30 with the Council of Republic following on May 2. As many as 7,630 people are eligible, yet the program does not apply to convicted regime critics despite the calls from rights defenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amnesty thus will not include people branded as \u201cinvolved in extremist and terrorist activities,\u201d a designation that usually is applied to those convicted in politically-motivated cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To qualify for the amnesty, convicts must fully compensate for the damage caused by their crimes and receive a positive assessment from prison authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the new law, individuals suffering from certain illnesses will be eligible for full exemption from punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prisoners over the age of 70 who have no prior criminal record and are serving sentences of up to six years may have their punishment reduced to restricted freedom in home confinement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, a partial amnesty would apply to individuals convicted of reckless crimes resulting in death. Their sentences would be shortened by one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 7, human rights defenders identified at least 1,189 political prisoners but the real number is considerably higher because many cases go undocumented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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