Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko announced plans to release seriously ill opposition figures from prison as the country celebrates its Independence Day. Specific details regarding the number and identities of those to be released were not disclosed though. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the opposition, posted on social media to express her relief that these prisoners would soon be reunited with their families.

Today we witnessed the first cases of some political prisoners being released in #Belarus. I am glad to see these people free & reunited with their loved ones. But many are still on the humanitarian list. News of release is what we want to hear about every political prisoner. pic.twitter.com/qXnAS5PeZC

— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) July 3, 2024

But a crackdown on Belarusian oppositionists continues. Twenty people received prison sentences ranging from 10 to 12 years on Monday after being found guilty in absentia. The list includes employees of Tsikhanouskaya, who herself was handed a 15-year sentence in March 2023.