Lukashenko pardons 250 convicts after talks with Trump's special envoy

MINSK. March 19 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 250 convicts after talks with the U.S. president's Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale in Minsk on Thursday, the telegram channel The First Man's Pool, close to the Belarusian presidential press service, said.

"The president has made a decision to pardon some persons convicted for extremist crimes. The president traditionally followed the principles of humanism, above all else. And of course, he took into account the appeals coming from the convicts' mothers' wives and loved ones," it said.

All appeals were considered by a relevant commission led by the prosecutor general before being submitted to the president, it said. The president also took into account the opinion of members of this commission when he made the decision.

"As a result, a decision was made to pardon 250 people. The state gives them all the right to a new page in life," it said.