Opposition leaders to urge authorities to use this year’s amnesty for releasing political prisoners

The leaders of United Pro-democratic Forces plan to call on the Belarusian authorities to use this year’s amnesty to release all political prisoners.

The Presidium of the opposition coalition’s Political Council decided to send an appropriate letter to Natallya Pyatkevich, deputy head of the Presidential Administration, at its meeting on September 26, Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the United Civic Party, told BelaPAN.

In the letter, the opposition leaders also are expected to express protest against the arrest of Viktar Ivashkevich and Valery Ukhnalyow in Minsk on September 25. The politicians, who head the organizing committees for two opposition demonstrations to be staged this fall, were both again at large on Wednesday, but Mr. Ivashkevich may stand trial on an administrative charge in the near future.

A bill that would grant an amnesty to certain convicts was submitted by Alyaksandr Lukashenka to the national legislature earlier this month.

The legislation would apply to those convicted of crimes that are punished by no more than six years in prison and those sentenced to jail.

All convicts who have less than one year left till the end of their term would be entitled.

As many as 3,512 convicts might be pardoned.