Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 16 individuals convicted of various offences, including charges of "extremism", ahead of the country's Independence Day, state media reported on Wednesday.

According to human rights organisations and the exiled opposition, there are still around 1,150 political prisoners in Belarus. Lukashenko, a long-standing ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been in power for more than 30 years.

Over the past year, Lukashenko has released more than 300 people, seemingly as part of efforts to improve strained relations with the West, which has imposed sanctions on his regime due to its human rights abuses according to Amnesty Internaional, and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The latest pardons, reported by the state-run Belta news agency, include eight men and eight women- some of whom reportedly suffer from chronic illnesses, have disabilities, or are parents of young children.

Franak Viacorka, senior adviser to exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, welcomed the move but noted that no prominent dissidents appeared to be among those freed.

He pointed out that several people had been jailed for politically motivated reasons in recent weeks, suggesting there has been no meaningful shift in government policy. However, Viacorka expressed cautious optimism, citing the recent release of opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski after talks between Lukashenko and U.S. presidential envoy Keith Kellogg.

“We must keep pressing, and we urge President Trump to get involved — he has the influence to help secure more releases,” Viacorka told Reuters.

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