Belarus political prisoners pardoned as Alexander Lukashenko frees 28 ahead of Independence Day

Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 28 political prisoners on Wednesday. The move linked to Independence Day celebrations on Friday. The decree said the prisoners were convicted of "extremist crimes\". Authorities often use that label during a wider crackdown on dissent. It said the pardons were granted on humanitarian grounds.

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The development came as Lukashenko sought better ties with Western countries. Belarus has faced repeated Western sanctions for human rights abuses. It was also sanctioned for letting Moscow use Belarusian territory. Russia used it during the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Lukashenko pardon and the wider political prisoner count

Belarus still held 864 political prisoners, including 21 journalists, Viasna said. The rights centre provided the latest tally after the new pardons. The state did not release names in the decree details. The \"extremist\" label often covered protest-linked cases.

Belarus has a population of about 9.5 million, and Lukashenko has ruled for over three decades. Lukashenko faced a major challenge after the 2020 presidential election. Large crowds protested, saying the vote was rigged. Security forces detained tens of thousands, and many reported police beatings.

Lukashenko pardon tied to US-mediated deals and sanctions

Since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, Lukashenko has freed hundreds. The releases came through US-mediated deals that also eased some US sanctions. In March, Lukashenko ordered 250 political prisoners released. The US then lifted sanctions on two Belarusian state banks.

The March deal also lifted US sanctions from Belarus’ Finance Ministry. It also removed the top Belarusian potash producers from a sanctions list. In April, another deal led to a swap with Poland. That agreement freed journalist Andrzej Poczobut and released 10 people overall.

Lukashenko pardon amid UN warnings on human rights in Belarus

In a report released earlier this week, UN expert Nils Muižnieks warned conditions had not improved. The UN special rapporteur focused on the human rights situation in Belarus. Muižnieks noted several hundred releases in the past year. Still, the report said the overall rights picture stayed bleak.

Muižnieks said: \"Sustainable progress requires an end to politically motivated repression and accountability for past violations,\" he said. The comment referred to the need for systemic change. It also pointed to investigations into alleged abuses. The report did not link progress to any single release.

Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke to The Associated Press about the pardons. Tsikhanouskaya said: \"while the release of 28 political prisoners will bring relief to their relatives, we mustnt forget that hundreds of political prisoners remain in Belarusian jails, and all of them must be released.\" Tsikhanouskaya said families were still waiting.

Lukashenko won a seventh term last year, five years after the 2020 protests. The opposition called that election a farce. Even with the latest pardons, rights groups said many remained jailed. The UN report and opposition voices kept pressure on Minsk. The government has not signalled a wider change.

With inputs from PTI