Belarus, a close Russian ally, pardoned 31 Ukrainian citizens, state TV said on Saturday, as part of an agreement between President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
Trump has pushed Belarus to free political prisoners in contacts with Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994 and stamped out free media and political opposition.
In exchange, Washington has partly lifted sanctions on Belarus' state carrier Belavia, allowing it to service and buy parts for its fleet, which includes Boeing aircraft.
“The president has pardoned 31 Ukrainian citizens who committed criminal offenses on the territory of our country,” Lukashenko's spokeswoman Natalia Eismont told state TV.
The pardon, which was requested by Ukraine, was a result of “the agreements reached between U.S. President Donald Trump and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko,” she said.
The move was aimed at “creating conditions for the settlement of the armed conflict in the neighboring state,” the spokeswoman added, referring to the war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainians, who were not identified, are being handed over to Kyiv “right now,” according to Eismont.
Belarus has typically charged people who oppose or criticize the government with “extremism,” handing out years-long prison sentences. It was not immediately clear what the freed Ukrainians had been charged with.
Earlier, Lukashenko had freed dozens of political prisoners, including prominent dissidents, journalists and clerics.
There were more than 1,000 political prisoners still remaining in Belarusian prisons, according to rights groups.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
