"Belarus has pardoned 25 prisoners as part of an ongoing drive to improve relations with the United States. President Alexander Lukashenko's office announced the decision on Tuesday, less than a week after Minsk freed dozens of prisoners following an appeal by US President Donald Trump to release hundreds said to have been prosecuted on politically motivated charges. State news outlet BelTA reported that 12 women and 13 men were pardoned, without identifying any by name."
"Last week's release of 52 political prisoners included a staff member with the EU's delegation in Minsk and nine journalists and bloggers, including a reporter for US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Released prisoners were bussed over the border into EU member Lithuania, where they were greeted by exiled opposition figures. However, prominent opposition member Mikola Statkevich, who had refused deportation after his release, was returned to a penal colony, according to a report published on Monday by independent news outlet Nasha Niva."
Belarus pardoned 25 prisoners as part of efforts to improve relations with the United States, following a larger recent release of detainees after an appeal by US President Donald Trump. State media reported 12 women and 13 men were pardoned without naming individuals, and human rights groups say some pardoned were political prisoners. More than 1,000 political prisoners remain detained after the 2020 election crackdown, with Lukashenko re-elected again this year. Released detainees were transported to Lithuania and received by exiled opposition figures, while opposition leader Mikola Statkevich was reportedly returned to a penal colony.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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