MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko responded to insinuations regarding the recent pardon of prisoners as part of arrangements with U.S. President Donald Trump as he answered questions following his Address to the Belarusian people and the Parliament on 18 December, BelTA has learned.
As was noted, the recent pardon of prisoners sparked widespread discussion online not only in Belarus but also beyond its borders. In particular, many keep asking why it was the leaders of the self-exiled Belarusians who got freed, rather than the bulk of their followers who listened to them and faced time in jail.
Moreover, comments have appeared on certain resources claiming that the core supporters of the Belarusian president and law enforcement officers allegedly did not support this decision. The head of state was asked to respond to these insinuations.
“As for this ‘core electorate’ and splitting the society... That’s simply seeing what you want to see,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president noted that very recently he was provided with a survey of opinions among law enforcement personnel on this issue. “They were on the front line with the president. Therefore, they have the right to know. But to be completely frank, I have received a report on a survey of opinions among the law enforcement officers. There were two or three individuals who do not condemn the president but said: ‘You are right, but I wouldn’t have released these ones.’ But that is that person’s opinion,” he added.
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that the decision to pardon the prisoners was made as part of negotiations with the U.S. side. “This was not my initiative. All these prisoner exchanges are what the U.S. negotiators wanted,” he said. “There was one of the negotiators, I won’t name him... I told him straight that he is a CIA man. He worked for the CIA and was one of those who organized that coup attempt here in 2020. I asked him to admit that he lost, so that we can start building our relations based on that.”
Also, one of the demands from the U.S. side, allegedly on behalf of Donald Trump, was that the prisoners pardoned by the president must remain in Belarus. “I said: ‘John [U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale], admit it, did you add that bit? He might not even have read what you wrote from him and from Melania, asking me to let them stay in Belarus.’ So I told them to take them and sort it out over there.”
The head of state noted that the pardon of prisoners has sown discord among the self-exiled opposition. He also pointed out that certain self-exiled Belarusians are now even being branded as pro-Russian. “Why should we fight if others can do it?” the Belarusian leader said. “We didn’t have to release them, some are still here. Let them set up an extra office in Germany and fight for money and grants in Brussels. How does that harm us? Why risk them causing trouble for you in a year or two, and for me too? Let them stay over there and fight. They are not coming back here.”
Follow us on:
