The Belarusian government on Thursday released 250 political prisoners as part of an agreement with the United States: 235 individuals were freed within the country, while another 15 were transferred to Lithuania, the US embassy in Vilnius said, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Washington agreed to ease sanctions on Belarus’s financial sector, including Belinvestbank, and also lifted all remaining US sanctions on potash companies Belaruskali, Belarusian Potash Company, and Agrorozkvit.
The agreement was reached following a meeting on Thursday between US special envoy John Coale and Aliaksandr Lukashenka in Minsk.
According to Lukashenka’s press service, 250 individuals convicted of “extremism-related crimes” were pardoned “on the basis of the principle of humanism.”
“First and foremost, the head of state traditionally acted on the principle of humanism. And, of course, he took into account appeals received from the mothers, wives, and relatives of those convicted. It should also be emphasized that all appeals were thoroughly reviewed by the relevant commission, chaired by the Prosecutor General, before being submitted to the President. In making the decision, the head of state also considered the opinion of the commission members. As a result, a decision was made to pardon 250 individuals. The state grants all of them the right to a new chapter in life,” the statement said.
According to Reform.news, 15 individuals were taken to Lithuania:
- Katsiaryna Bakhvalava (Andreyeva)
- Kiryl Kazei
- Aliaksandr Kozlyanko (Kazlianka)
- Dzmitry Kubarev (Kubarau)
- Mikalai Kuleshov (Kuliashou)
- Anastasiya Loika
- Siarhei Movshuk (Maushuk)
- Aliaksei Melnikov (Melnikau)
- Eduard Palchys
- Maria Rabkova
- Kim Samusenko (Samusenka)
- Pavel Shpetny
- Valiantsin Stefanovic
- Dzianis Zhelezko (Zhaliazko)
- Mikita Zolotarev (Zalatarou)
