Lukashenko renounces the release of political prisoners

Lukashenko denies the existence of political prisoners in Belarus and calls these people "bandits."

Do you want one and a half or two thousand (as they count there)? Take them to yourself, take them there. Counting on the fact that we will release the bandits who burned, blew up, and they will admit it, (is not worth it. — Ed.). We will release them, and they will wage war against us again? Society will not support me here.

The Belarusian opposition and human rights groups claim that there are up to 1,300 political prisoners in Belarusian prisons — a figure also cited by US President Donald Trump.

A surprise phone call between Trump and Lukashenko last week, followed by a post in which the US president called Lukashenko "a very respected president of Belarus" and expressed hope for the speedy release of 1,300 prisoners, opened the possibility of a warming in relations between the US and Belarus.

Recall that in June, Trump's special representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, unexpectedly visited Belarus and met with Lukashenko.

During this visit, the Lukashenko regime released 14 political prisoners, including former presidential candidate Serhiy Tikhanovsky, after more than five years behind bars.