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Lukashenko: We don’t need ‘political prisoners’ or any other convicts

An archive photo

MINSK, 11 September (BelTA/TASS) – While receiving a report from Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations Valentin Rybakov, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on pardoning a number of prisoners – a subject raised during his talks with the U.S. delegation, BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted that the topic is being “foisted” on President Donald Trump.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked: “We are ready to discuss this topic. Moreover, the Americans are taking a constructive stance, a very constructive stance on the so-called political prisoners. We do not need political prisoners or any other prisoners.” Addressing the conflicting number of the so-called political prisoners often cited, he clarified: “They say: a thousand, nine hundred, a thousand three hundred, a thousand four hundred… But we did not grab just any random people on the street. Several thousand more… are looking at the authorities askance, harboring plans to rock the boat here. We are aware of this. Only those who really took part in this attempted coup were convicted,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian leader added: “And the Americans understand this. Well, people, parents [of these prisoners] and so on, approach them. They respond to this. We hear them. We are happy to discuss this topic. And if there is even the slightest possibility of releasing individual convicts – especially since they are taking them to Europe or somewhere else – we don’t mind it.” 

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