The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, pardoned 22 people, most of whom were convicted of extremist crimes, in the approach of the new year.

Aleksandr Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, signed a decree granting clemency to 22 people, including 15 women and 7 men, on the occasion of the approaching new year. According to the statement from the Presidency, 20 of those pardoned were convicted of extremist crimes, a category often associated with the regime's opponents. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, has severely repressed dissent movements, especially during the 2020-2021 period, when massive protests against his allegedly fraudulent re-election took place.

The clemency was justified by the authorities on humanitarian grounds and in the interest of families. Additionally, in the context of international pressures, U.S. President Donald Trump called for the release of political prisoners in Belarus. Although over a hundred prisoners have been released, the NGO Viasna reports that there are still over a thousand political prisoners in the country, including prominent opposition figures.