Lukashenko pardons 30 more convicted protesters in Belarus

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 30 more people convicted for protest activity, state news agency Belta said on Wednesday.
Human rights activists say there are about 1,400 people in prison in Belarus for voicing dissent against Lukashenko, who has run the country for 30 years. He has intensified a crackdown on opponents since 2020, when mass protests broke out after he claimed victory in an election that the opposition and Western governments said was heavily rigged.
The veteran leader, who turned 70 last week, released 18 people from prison in early July and announced a pardon for 30 individuals on Aug. 16.
Those freed so far include sick and elderly people, some of whom were in any case approaching the end of their sentences.