Belarus Pardons 30 Protest Prisoners

— Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 individuals convicted for their involvement in protests, according to a statement from his presidential office. The pardoned group includes 14 women and 16 men, some of whom are elderly or suffering from serious illnesses. However, the names of those pardoned were not disclosed. This decision comes in the context of ongoing political repression following the controversial 2020 presidential election, which many view as fraudulent and which sparked widespread protests and a severe crackdown on dissent. The protests that erupted after the election led to the arrest of over 35,000 people, with thousands reportedly subjected to violence. Many opposition leaders received lengthy prison sentences, while others sought refuge abroad. Lukashenko, who has been in power for nearly three decades, has maintained his position with the backing of Moscow, allowing Russian military operations to utilize Belarusian territory, including during the invasion of Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled opposition leader, welcomed the pardoning of the 30 prisoners but emphasized the need for continued efforts to secure the release of nearly 1,400 political prisoners still detained in Belarus. She expressed her sorrow over the ongoing detentions and reiterated her commitment to fighting for the freedom of all political prisoners. The Viasna human rights group, which monitors political repression in Belarus, estimates that around 1,400 political prisoners remain incarcerated, including notable figures like Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The group also reported that approximately 65,000 individuals have faced arrest since the protests began.