Belarusian president pardons over 120 foreign prisoners

Lukashenko says decision made under agreement with Trump in exchange for lifting sanctions on Belarusian potassium industry

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday announced a pardon for 123 citizens of various countries sentenced for espionage, terrorism, and extremism.

The move follows agreements with US President Donald Trump in exchange for lifting sanctions from the Belarusian potassium industry, the press service of the Belarusian president said.

The statement added that this gesture was also motivated by requests from other heads of state and based on universal human and family values, as well as humanitarian principles.

"The decision is aimed at accelerating the positive momentum in the development of relations with Belarus's partner countries and in the interest of stabilizing the situation in the European region," it said.

On Friday, Lukashenko's press service reported Lukashenko's meeting with US Ambassador to Belarus John Coale.

In November, Lukashenko pardoned 23 citizens of Australia, Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, the United States, Ukraine, and Japan.

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