Belarus President Lukashenko Considers Amnesty for Ill Political Prisoners

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has announced a possible amnesty for seriously ill political prisoners, including those with cancer, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Minsk's liberation from Nazi occupation. Lukashenko, in power since 1994 and allied with Putin, faced protests after his controversial re-election in 2020, leading to mass detentions of over 25,000 individuals. Despite the pardon, critics note that opponents of Lukashenko may not benefit from the amnesty, with reports of ongoing arrests and torture of dissidents in Belarus. The Human Rights Center Viasna reported a significant number of political prisoners in Belarus with health concerns, including elderly inmates and those with disabilities.