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.
The public health challenge linked to the emergence of a rare strain of hantavirus is complex, according to pharmacist and health commentator ...
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” a...
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Sp...
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the G...
Iran warned of an “immediate, intense, and powerful” response to any renewed Israeli or U.S. attack, a...
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.
Iran warned of an “immediate, intense, and powerful” response to any renewed Israeli or U.S. attack, as efforts to secure an interim peace deal appeared to stall despite fresh diplomatic contacts.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev during talks in Yerevan, where he sharply criticised resolutions adopted against his country by the European Parliament.
French President Emmanuel Macron opened France’s first-ever business summit in an English-speaking African nation on Monday (11 May), as Paris seeks to strengthen ties across the continent following a decline in influence in several former French colonies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attempt a political fightback on Monday (11 May) with a speech promising closer ties with the European Union after Labour suffered heavy local election losses and growing calls for his resignation.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that three Polish nationals and two Moldovan citizens had been released from detention in Belarus and Russia, highlighting what he described as growing diplomatic cooperation with Minsk.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel aims to eventually end its reliance on U.S. financial military support within the next decade. The decision signals a long-term shift in the country’s defence policy as it seeks to deepen ties with Gulf states.
Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s billionaire former prime minister, has been released on parole from prison on Monday (11 May). Shinawatra served part of an eight-month sentence that capped years of legal battles, political turmoil and controversy surrounding his return from exile.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment