Among the "extremists" pardoned by Lukashenka for the New Year, there are also those under home confinement
By definition, such people are not on the list of political prisoners, as they are already living at home.
Photo by LookByMedia
On December 30, 2025, Alexander Lukashenka pardoned 20 people "convicted of crimes of extremist orientation." The names of these political prisoners are traditionally not disclosed.
But will the number of political prisoners automatically decrease by 20 people? No.
Nasha Niva learned about one of those pardoned. This is a woman who is under home confinement. Moreover, her term was supposed to end soon anyway.
According to human rights defenders' methodology, those under home confinement are not included in the count of political prisoners. Yes, they are also victims of political persecution, but their immediate release from custody is not required, as these individuals are already at home.
Those under home confinement are not included in the "1300 political prisoners" that Donald Trump wrote about (according to Viasna's calculations, 1131 political prisoners are currently imprisoned).
Nevertheless, Alexander Lukashenka includes them in the lists of those pardoned, demonstrating "acts of humanism," but not reducing the actual number of political prisoners.
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