Belarus: Lukashenko Pardoned Political Prisoners

All nine participants of the December 19 protests in Minsk whom Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko recently pardoned, have been released from prison.
The list of paroled protesters does not include six former presidential candidates; they will continue serving their terms varying from two to five and half years in Belarusian colonies. One other presidential candidate, Ales Mihalevich, secretly left Belarus and received political asylum in the Czech Republic.

The charter of pardon of 9 persons was signed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka on August 11. “Such a decision had been adopted on the grounds of petitions for pardon of the above-mentioned persons, considering the fact that they had acknowledged the criminal character of their actions, admitted fault and repented sincerely,” the press-service of the president informed.