Belarus has pardoned 31 Ukrainian citizens, as part of an agreement between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his American counterpart Donald Trump, state television reported today.
“The president pardoned 31 Ukrainian citizens who committed criminal offenses on the territory of our country,” Lukashenko’s spokeswoman Natalia Eismont told state television.
She added that their handover to Ukrainian authorities is underway. It was not specified which individuals are involved.
The spokeswoman said the pardon requested by Ukraine was the result of “agreements concluded between US President Donald Trump and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.”
Trump has urged Belarus to release political prisoners during his contacts with Lukashenko, who has ruled the country with a firm hand for three decades, stifling free media and political opposition.
In exchange, Washington partially lifted sanctions on the Belarusian airline Belavia and allowed it to purchase parts and maintain its fleet, which includes Boeing aircraft.
The spokeswoman said that the aim of this measure is to create conditions for a resolution of the armed conflict in the neighboring country.
Earlier this fall, Lukashenko, who is seeking to improve the image of a country under heavy Western sanctions, released dozens of political prisoners, dissidents, journalists and priests.
More than 1.000 political prisoners are in Belarusian prisons, according to human rights NGOs.
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