What is behind the “pardons” and “releases” of political prisoners in Belarus?
Today, pro-government channels in Belarus reported that 16 political prisoners were "pardoned" and released from prison. This is not the first case: since July 2024, 330 people have already undergone such procedures.
Today, pro-government channels in Belarus reported that 16 political prisoners were "pardoned" and released from prison. This is not the first case: since July 2024, 330 people have already undergone such procedures.
It would seem: the person is freed - what else do you need? However, behind the loud statements about mercy there is a whole spectrum of new methods of control, pressure and discredit.
Two types of "liberations"
In recent months, we have seen two different scenarios being presented as “pardons” or “releases”:
1️⃣ Pardon with stay in Belarus
In this case, the person is officially granted a pardon - and the corresponding entry actually appears in the documents. It would seem that the formal procedure has been followed. But the real consequences are such that it is impossible to call it "freedom". This is what happens:
- People are being recruited en masse and by force by the special services under the threat of a new criminal case and pressure on their families.
- They demand that you sign papers on cooperation and agree to appear in propaganda videos.
- They prohibit leaving the country.
- They are forced to transmit information about the activities of democratic structures and funds to help the repressed.
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Often, under this pretext, spyware is installed on the devices of former prisoners in order to conduct surveillance and intelligence activities in real time.
Former political prisoner Antonina Konovalova, who was pardoned in December 2024, spoke in detail about the reality that those released face:
"It seems like you exist, but you don't. You can't open a bank account, get a salary card, send or receive a parcel. At the same time, they demand that you get a job. If you are on the "extremist" lists, you simply have no rights. And then the "meetings" with the GUPOPiK (General Department for Prevention of Organised Crime and Corruption) employees begin, where they offer you to become an informer, hint that your children are hostages, and promise to get you a job at a factory under their supervision."
This bears little resemblance to liberation. This is a new stage of repression in the form of social and psychological pressure. In fact, this is a form of desocialization of people and the expulsion of those who are undesirable to the dictatorship abroad.
2️⃣ Forced displacement outside the country
Another category of "releases" is even more frightening. Thus, on February 12, 2025, with the participation of the US State Department, Elena Movshuk, journalist Andrei Kuznechik and Nikolai Shugaev were released and actually taken away. On June 21, 2025, after the visit to Minsk of the special representative of US President Donald Trump - another 14 people, including Sergei Tikhanovsky.
Most often this practice looks like this:
- The prisoner is removed from the colony or prison without warning.
- With a bag over his head, he is taken to the border of a European state.
- They are depriving you of your documents.
- In fact, they are thrown outside of Belarus.
In this case, the will of the person, his desire to remain in his native country or to prepare in any way are not taken into account. The term “ forced transfer ” or “forced displacement ” characterizes this practice most fully and succinctly.
For the first time it was clearly enshrined, for example, in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court , which in Article 7 (crimes against humanity) defines:
Article 7(2)(d)
"'Deportation or forcible transfer of population' means the forcible displacement of persons, within or outside the territory in which they are lawfully present, without grounds permitted by international law."
Many of those released report that they did not apply for pardon or submit any statements that could serve as a formal basis for release. Natalia Dulina, one of those released on June 21, said in an interview :
They put us in this minibus, handcuffed us and put medical masks on our eyes so that we could not see anything. We drove off and did not understand where. There were many options. It looked like some kind of gangster kidnapping. It was completely unclear what was happening. Then they brought us to the KGB pretrial detention center, where we spent the night. Again, they did not tell us anything. The next morning, that is, early today, they said: "Pack all your things, keep them ready, they will take you away from here soon." We asked what was going on. They answered that they did not know. Then they took us out again, this time not in medical masks, but with a bag over their heads - it was like a balaclava, but without slits. They put us in a minibus, and we drove off. I had six months left to serve, and I was quite capable of holding out until the end. I did not admit guilt, did not write a petition for pardon. Moreover, I categorically refused to do so.
Why is it important to talk about this?
Some representatives of the democratic movement succumb to the illusion that such “liberations” are a sign of the regime’s ability to negotiate or its “humanity.” But in reality, we see a systemic policy of destroying human subjectivity; pressure, blackmail, and recruitment; the violent displacement and isolation of former prisoners; an attempt to destroy networks of mutual aid and solidarity.
If we were to conduct a thought experiment and imagine that all political prisoners would be subject to such “liberations,” then, given the ongoing repressions and the ever-increasing number of people ending up in prison, a small island or territory the size of a compact state would be needed to accommodate everyone that the Lukashenko regime decides to grind in the millstones of the repressive system and then forcibly expel from the country.
Such a process takes place outside any legal framework, without decisions of any bodies and often with the confiscation of all documents from the "released". We can also talk about "luck" when a political prisoner has a certain media presence or a well-known background - in this case, civil society quickly picks up this person, helps him adapt to another country, legalize, and receive basic support.
But what if this practice is extended to all political prisoners and thousands of people are literally thrown into the obscurity of a foreign state without documents, without understanding where to look for help and who to turn to?
A small number of people are no longer tortured in prisons - yes. However, torture is replaced by new humiliations and repressions. Only the end of all forms of persecution , the release and full rehabilitation of political prisoners , as well as systemic changes in Belarus can return the value of human rights to the country.