Lukashenko Confirms: No Plans to Release Political Prisoners After Talk with Trump
President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who has declared himself the self-proclaimed ruler of the country, openly stated that he has no plans to free over a thousand political prisoners, as discussed in his telephone conversation with former U.S.
President Donald Trump.
He expressed a very firm stance during a press conference, commenting on the possibility of pardoning convicts held in Belarusian prisons primarily for political reasons.
Lukashenko clearly indicated that the release of so-called political detainees is unlikely, emphasizing that such decisions should be made internally, considering the reaction of society and its attitude towards such matters.
According to him, any attempt to free criminals involved in violence, sabotage, and anti-state activities would only worsen the situation and would not be supported by the population.
Lukashenko also admitted that the issue was briefly discussed during his call with Trump, stressing that it was not initiated by the American leader but was a side topic in their communication with former U.S.
officials.
He highlighted that societal opinion plays a crucial role in decision-making on such issues.
Although some prisoners have recently been released following negotiations, Lukashenko underscored that their number is not conclusive and that many restrictions remain concerning pardons.
He also recalled the meeting with Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, in Minsk on June 21, after which several political prisoners, including opposition leader Sergey Tikhonovsky, sentenced in 2021 to 18 years in a strict regime colony, were freed.
Additionally, bloggers and at least a dozen other detainees were released, raising some hope for future changes in policy towards political prisoners, though no official amnesty declarations have been made yet.