Lukashenko pardons 30 people convicted for protests

MINSK. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday signed a decree granting pardon to 30 people convicted "of protest-related crimes."

"Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on August 16 signed a decree pardoning 30 persons convicted of protest-related crimes. Those pardoned include 14 women and 16 men, some of them having serious diseases. There are also people of pension age among them," the presidential press service said.

"All of them have admitted their guilt, sincerely repented for their deeds, and committed to act in a law-abiding way. Under the president's instructions, the Interior Ministry will monitor their compliance with these commitments," it said.