Lukashenko signs pardon for 22

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, ahead of the New Year, signed a decree obligating state authorities to pardon 22 people, including 20 who were convicted of extremist-related crimes.

The pardoned individuals include 15 women and 7 men. Eleven of them have minor children. All applicants submitted requests for pardon, admitted their guilt, and showed remorse.

The head of state formalized the pardon decision based on family circumstances and positive character references of the accused, stating that this action is notable from a humanitarian standpoint.

Context

In Belarus, it is an annual tradition for the President to sign a pardon decree for selected individuals around New Year, considered a customary practice within the country's legal system.