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Eleven Belarusian political prisoners who were released this week after a presidential pardon have been named. They are Pavel Vinahradau, Fyodra Mirzayanuu, Alyaksandr Klaskouski, Uladzimir Loban, Dzmitry Novik, Alyaksandr Atroshchankau , Alyaksandr Mauchanau, Aleh Fedarkevich, Dzmitry Bulanau, Illya Vasilevich and Mikita Likhavid,
Read more about Belarus’s political prisoners here
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has today pardoned 11 more political prisonerssentenced for taking part in anti-government protests on 19 December 2010. The full list of names is not yet known, but Index believes that activists Pavel Vinogradov and Fyodor Mirzayanov are among those released.
Around five others remain in prison. A government press release stated that Lukashenko had been “guided by the principles of humanity”.
In August, The Royal Bank of Scotland announced that it will no longer engage in “any type of capital-raising” on behalf of the government of Belarus after an Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now campaign.
Belarus is Europe’s last dictatorship. Andrej Dynko explains how the country’s president Alexander Lukashenko retains his tight grip on power
Internet access in educational institutions must be under control, said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as he addressed educators on 29 August. Lukashenko said they and teachers should pay close attention to communication among young people online, primarily on social networks, which he labelled “a dangerous weapon” that could be used for “destructive purposes.”