Belarus President may pardon ‘political prisoners’ soon

MINSK, 5 April (BelTA) – In the near future the decision to pardon some convicts, who have been labeled “political prisoners” by the West, can be made, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the government session held on 5 April to discuss foreign policy matters. “A lot has been said recently about some political prisoners. Our Criminal Code contains no political articles,” stressed the President. He remarked that even opposition mass media openly state that it is useless to put pressure on Lukashenko. “It is correct. But they are wrong in saying that if Lukashenko is put under pressure, he would act contrariwise. Total nonsense. I’ve never been guided by some personal ambitions. I will act the way the Constitution and laws tell me. Some kind of contrariwise is out of the question. Some people could try to act more decently if they ask or even demand something, moreover, demand from the president”. Speaking about the so-called political prisoners, Alexander Lukashenko remarked that their relatives had been chiding him he had promised to pardon them but have not done it yet. “There is only one reason. When I mentioned it several months ago, there was a general outcry. But I warned the pardon of the so-called political prisoners starts with their writing a request to get pardoned. I said it right away in public. If they don’t want to make an appeal, they should serve their time,” said Alexander Lukashenko. Alexander Lukashenko said that after that explanation some talk started claiming the petition for pardon had been written under duress. “I instructed relevant officials to verify whether the petition for pardon had been written on one’s own free will. In the last few days I received information, including video, these people openly stated they had done it on their own free will. A couple of them have refused to do so. Well, it is up to them to serve their term,” said the Belarusian head of state. “I will soon make decisions regarding those, who have asked for pardon. Nobody will be able to reproach me for failing to honor my obligations or promises. We will make the decision on some people, who have at last recognized the malignancy of their views and their policy regarding their own country,” said the Belarusian leader.

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