The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has pardoned 23 individuals who were previously convicted of extremism. The news was announced by the president’s press service.
According to the statement, the decision was made on the basis of humanitarian principles, giving the pardoned individuals a chance to return to a normal life. All of the pardoned individuals had submitted pardon requests, admitted their guilt, and shown remorse. The group consists of three women and 20 men, including 13 over the age of 50, 14 with chronic illnesses, and 12 with children.
The Belarusian Ministry of the Interior will monitor the individuals’ compliance with the law. This is not the first time the head of state has taken such a step. Lukashenko emphasized that the pardon of individuals convicted of participating in protests in Belarus in 2020 was not driven by a desire to improve relations with the West, but by humanitarian considerations.