Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday ratified an amnesty bill that will benefit more than 8,000 people, of whom 4,500 will be released and 3,900 will have their sentences reduced.
The regulation was previously approved by the Belarusian Parliament, as indicated by the Presidency in a statement reported by the BelTA news agency. The ratification took place on the occasion of the National Unity Day, as confirmed by Lukashenko himself.
The law establishes the different categories for the reduction of sentences for crimes that do not represent a great danger to society. According to data collected by the Parliament itself, 4,545 convicts are expected to be finally released, although the total number of people affected could reach 8,500.
The measure could also benefit the thousands of prisoners who have been imprisoned as a result of the protests registered in the country after the controversial presidential elections of 2020, which according to the opposition were fraudulently carried out to guarantee Lukashenko’s continuity in power.
