"No one can force me." Lukashenko on the reasons for pardoning so-called "political prisoners"

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, at a meeting on current domestic policy issues and preparations for political campaigns, spoke about the reasons for pardoning several dozen people whom opponents attributed to political prisoners, reports a BELTA correspondent.

"We see that the main thing for them is to get grants, money. They don't care about anything, even about the issues for which they should actually live. Well, take the issues of so-called political prisoners. How many times has it been said: we have no political articles, and we have not convicted anyone under political articles, because they simply do not exist. There are no "political prisoners". Fine. Well, then fight for these "political prisoners"," the head of state noted.

Alexander Lukashenko recalled that he had recently made two publicly announced decisions to pardon several dozen so-called political prisoners. "Well, they should be happy (opponents. - BELTA note), at least thank us. No, they are concerned with proving to themselves and to those abroad that they have made a huge contribution and 'forced the dictator' to make such decisions," the President remarked. "Firstly, no one can force me. That is out of the question. I often tell journalists and others: you know me well, I have never made decisions on orders or under pressure."

As for the pardon of specific individuals, Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that these were his decisions, and there were various reasons for them. "Someone got sick, someone can no longer go for walks, unlike how they used to roam the avenues here. Well, anything can happen in life. Someone no longer poses any danger. Someone has completely lost their mind, their brains have turned - they went out (in 2020. - BELTA note), tried to turn things upside down on the streets of Minsk. Well, anything has happened in life. We saw such people. Why keep them there, feeding them at the state's expense. We let them go. They are under the full control of law enforcement agencies here," the Belarusian leader said.

He stated that instead of thanking, opponents abroad, on the contrary, are not happy with this turn of events. "They are not happy that these people have been released. Why are they not happy? Well, the Americans and others tell them: guys, where were you, what was your contribution? And none. So then there's no money, i.e., as journalists rightly noted: the longer someone stays in places of confinement here, the better for them. Well, they should be told this openly," Alexander Lukashenko said.

Source: belta.by