Belarusian human rights activists accused the country's government on September 30 of pressuring political prisoners who have been pardoned by authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and forcing them to cooperate with authorities. During the past three months, Lukashenka has pardoned 115 activists who were convicted for taking part in protests against his rule. Those pardoned were a small fraction of more than 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus, according to the Vyasna human rights center. They include the group’s founder and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatski. Vyasna and other rights groups, including BYSOL, said those amnestied were barred from leaving the country and forced to take part in propaganda videos.
Belarus Pressures Pardoned Political Prisoners, Rights Groups Say
Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka (file photo).