As you know, Lukashenka unexpectedly organized another "mercy action" and released some of the political prisoners. On August 16, Lukashenka signed a decree pardoning 30 political prisoners, including 14 women and 16 men, some of whom have serious illnesses. Over the past day, political prisoners began to leave colonies under amnesty. The names of at least 13 people who were released from prison, where they were imprisoned for political reasons, are known. The names of the other released human rights defenders have not yet been released for security reasons.
But, freeing the hostages with one hand, Lukashenka simultaneously throws new ones behind bars with the other.
From the last known cases:
• Journalist and human rights defender Uladzimir Khilmanovich was convicted in absentia in Grodno. His author's blog was probably the reason for the persecution. At the fifth court session, he was sentenced to 5 years in a penal colony;
• On September 2, representatives of the Minsk startup hub "Imaguru" will be tried under the article "conspiracy or other actions committed with the aim of seizing state power."
• Four residents of Brest were imprisoned for participating in protest actions in 2020;
• 50-year-old Vitsebsk resident Ervand Marcirosyan was sentenced to 2 years in prison for making statements about Lukashenka;
• Natalya, a woman from Berestia who came from Poland to attend the funeral of a loved one, was detained for donating to the Bysol solidarity fund;
• The engineer of JSC "Beltym" was detained and forced to record a "video confession" in which he "admits" to participation in the post-election protest actions.
Thus, the entire so-called "amnesty" of Lukashenka is nothing more than a manifestation of "magnanimity" towards his supporters and a demonstration of "steps" towards Western countries. In fact, the regime does not plan any relaxations - repression continues in an intensified mode, supporters of democracy continue to be thrown behind bars for their views
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