Lukashenko releases 30 political prisoners in bid to win West's favor
Alexander Lukashenko has released 30 political prisoners who had been charged in connection with organising protests. According to experts, this is not an act of goodwill by the dictator but a signal to the West.
On Wednesday, the Belarusian government announced the release of a group of 30 political prisoners. Among the recipients of the release of yet another group of political prisoners is the West.
The release of prisoners in Belarus was reported by official media in Belarus on Wednesday. These are 23 women and seven men. Thus, the total number of prisoners of conscience released in the last two months amounts to 78.
More political prisoners pardoned
Lukashenko wants to gain recognition by Western countries for the results of the 2025 elections. That is why he is sending such small signals to the West, assesses political scientist Valer Karbalevich for Radio Svaboda.
According to him, by releasing a small number of political prisoners, Lukashenko is trying to "test the waters, probe whether the West is ready to talk, and see the reaction".
Veiled motivations
Experts believe that the probably 70-year-old Lukashenko is preparing the ground for next year's presidential elections, which he plans to "win" once again.
This demonstration of humanitarianism is also directed towards the Belarusian society. Lukashenko wants to improve his image, to look more humane, assesses Karbalevich, who is convinced that the authorities' decisions are dictated by calculation.
In a similar vein, analyst Vyacheslav Karastsiyen evaluates Lukashenko's actions on the Pozirk portal. He sees in them even a "trend," although he emphasises that the releases are small in scale compared to the extent of the repression.
Precisely because the repressions are ongoing, it's not possible to talk about an "attack of humanitarianism". Against the backdrop of some being released, the repression machine methodically grinds down others, writes the commentator.
At the same time, it should be noted that at least 1,400 people are still political prisoners. New arrests and trials are continuously taking place.
Minsk disappointed with the West's reaction
Although most names have not been made public, among those released, two groups can be noticed. Some of them are elderly and seriously ill. There is also a group of people whose time behind bars was nearing an end.
The release of dozens of people is good news in every respect. But it does not make the impression on Western politicians that Minsk would have expected. The West positively evaluates that some prisoners could regain their freedom, but still calls for the release of all unjustly convicted, emphasised Vyacheslav Karastsiyen.
