Four participants of a peaceful protest demonstration against the rigged presidential elections have been “pardoned”.

The relevant decree was signed by Lukashenka after “after considering petitions for pardon of these citizens. The convicts say they have repented, they have recognized their guilt and the illegal nature of their actions. They are ready to observe Belarusian laws in the future,” Lukashenka’s press service reports.

The names of the pardoned persons are not said.

Human rights activists and media inform Ales Kirkevich, Andrei Pratasenya, Aleh Hnedchyk and Dzmitry Daronin have been released.

As “Nasha Niva” newspaper writes, Ales Kirkevich’s wife, Nadzeya Krapivina, said that she phoned to the colony at 7 pm and was told that Ales had been released. He was freed at 6 pm. He has not phoned to his relatives so far. Kirkevich was a prisoner of penal colony in Ivatsevichy.

Andrei Pratasenya called his brother Alyaksandr to say he had been freed. Andrei has taken bus from Babruisk to Minsk. He told his brother he would like to be met only by relatives without journalists.

The mother of Aleh Hnedchyk confirmed her son had been released. Aleh is on his way to Minsk planning to arrive at 11 pm.

Earlier, nine people were “pardoned” on August 11. They are Dzmitry Drozd, Artsyom Hrybkou and Syarhei Kazakou from a penal colony in Babruisk, Yauheny Sakret and Uladzimir Khamichenka form a colony near Mahilou, Uladzimir Yaromenak from a colony in the Vitsebsk region, Vasily Parfyankou from a colony in Orsha, Vital Matsukevich from a colony in Navapolatsk, Alyaksandr Kvaytkevich from a colony in Ivatsevichy.

A peaceful protest demonstration against the fraudulent presidential elections that gathered thousands of people was held in Minsk on December 19, 2010. The authorities suppressed the demonstration brutally. Hundreds of protesters, including presidential candidates, were arrested. Andrei Sannikov, Mikalai Statkevich and Dzmitery Uss are still in prison.

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