Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko has granted pardons to 30 prisoners who were convicted for participating in protests, as announced by the presidential office on Friday. Among the pardoned individuals are 14 women and 16 men, some of whom are elderly or dealing with serious illnesses. The names of the individuals were not disclosed.

Following the pardon decision, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a leading figure in the Belarusian opposition currently living in exile, welcomed the move. However, she reiterated her commitment to continue advocating for the release of approximately 1,400 political prisoners still detained in Belarus.

The unrest in Belarus was sparked by the controversial 2020 presidential election, which was widely deemed fraudulent. The subsequent protests led to a severe government crackdown, resulting in the arrest of over 35,000 individuals and the sentencing of many opposition figures to lengthy prison terms.

President Lukashenko, who has been in power for three decades, has managed to hold onto control with backing from Moscow. This year, he permitted Russian troops to use Belarusian territory for operations in Ukraine and allowed the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia in Belarus.

According to the Viasna human rights group, there are currently around 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus, including prominent figures like Ales Bialiatski. Since the protests began, an estimated 65,000 people have been arrested.

Prior to this recent pardon, Belarusian authorities released 18 gravely ill political prisoners in July, including opposition leader Ryhor Kastusiou, who was battling cancer.

Reacting to the release of the 30 prisoners, Tsikhanouskaya described it as a “small but important step forward.” She emphasized the ongoing plight of those detained and incarcerated, stating that the fight for their freedom would persist until all individuals are released from custody.