Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has commented on the release of 20 political prisoners. Earlier today, Lukashenka’s press service reported that he had signed a decree granting pardons to 22 people, 20 of whom had been convicted under extremist articles.
“I am sincerely happy for the 20 people and their families who, on the eve of the New Year, can once again be together. These people should never have ended up behind bars. And no forced ‘repentance’ or admissions of guilt make them guilty.
‘Pardons’ are only the first step. People have been released from prison after unlawful detention, and now they need peace, time, and conditions for recovery. It is important that none of those released face new pressure or threats.
Hundreds of political prisoners still remain in Belarusian prisons. Among them are people with serious illnesses, elderly people, and mothers and fathers of young children. Each of them is waiting for their chance to return home. Every one of them must be released, and the repressions must be stopped,” Tsikhanouskaya said in a statement.
