Belarus Ruler Lukashenko releases 30 political prisoners

Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 political prisoners for the second time in just a few weeks. There are 7 women and 23 men, the presidential office in Minsk announced. No names were given. Most of those released were parents of minors.

According to the information provided, all of them "applied for a pardon, admitted their guilt, sincerely repented and promised to lead a law-abiding life". The latter will be monitored by the Ministry of the Interior. This information on the legal process cannot be verified.

Opposition speaks of more than 1400 political prisoners

The opposition working in exile around Svetlana Tikhanovskaya denounced that political persecution, torture and other crimes against humanity continue to take place in Belarus.

"I am relieved that 30 more political prisoners in Belarus have been pardoned," wrote Tsikhanouskaya on Platform X. However, more than 1,400 people are still imprisoned for political reasons.

The first pardon of 30 political prisoners in Belarus was announced in mid-August. As the Russian exile media outlet "Meduza" reported, the Belarusian opposition in exile had previously sent lists of seriously ill prisoners to the government in Minsk via third parties. Many prisoners from this list had been pardoned.

After the 2020 presidential election, which was overshadowed by unprecedented allegations of manipulation, Tikhanovskaya was considered the actual winner of the election. Her husband was arrested, as was the opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, who, together with Tsikhanouskaya, is considered a figurehead of the Belarusian opposition.

Concerns about opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova

Kolesnikova was sentenced to eleven years in prison in 2021 for conspiracy to overthrow the government. In November 2022, it became known that she had fallen seriously ill in prison and had to undergo surgery for a stomach ulcer. There was no sign of life from her for a long time.

Her sister Tatjana Chomitsch told the Polish-financed broadcaster Belsat on Monday that the imprisoned 42-year-old was in a bad way. "Maria is practically starving in the prison camp. She weighs 45 kilos and is 1.75 meters tall." Because of her stomach illness, Kolesnikova cannot tolerate the prison food. She is also not allowed to correspond with her family.

SDA