TALLINN, Estonia — In a notable move, Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko, known for his stringent approach toward dissent, has decided to pardon and set free 31 political prisoners, as announced by his office on Thursday.

Although the specific identities of the individuals released were not disclosed, it was indicated that three of them are disabled and 17 are suffering from chronic medical conditions. Human rights advocates and former inmates have expressed concerns regarding the inadequate medical care and deteriorating health conditions prevalent within Belarusian prisons.

The announcement categorized the released individuals as having been convicted of “extremist crimes,” a term that is commonly applied to opposition members and individuals detained during the significant protests that erupted in 2020, which followed the controversial presidential election that granted Lukashenko a sixth consecutive term.

The government’s severe crackdown has compelled numerous opposition leaders to seek refuge abroad, while many prominent activists who chose to remain in Belarus have faced imprisonment.

This year alone, Lukashenko has released a total of 115 political prisoners, despite maintaining his aggressive stance against the opposition. The motivation behind these releases, which coincides with the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for January, remains ambiguous.

Pavel Sapelka from the human rights organization Viasna commented on the situation, stating, “Lukashenko is sending conflicting messages; he has let go of 30 political prisoners, yet arrested over 100 individuals just last week.” He added, “We are witnessing a rise in fear and enhanced repression in Belarus as the presidential elections approach, and it’s unclear what messages Minsk is attempting to convey.”

Viasna reports that there are currently 1,278 political prisoners in Belarus, a number that notably includes Ales Bialiatski, the organization’s founder and a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize.