WARSAW, July 1, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Belarus has pardoned 28 people convicted of "extremist crimes", the country's presidency said Wednesday, using a term it applies to political prisoners.

The Russian-allied country still counts more than 800 political prisoners in its jails, many of whom were arrested during mass opposition protests against Lukashenko's disputed re-election in 2020, according to rights group Viasna.

The presidency did not give a list of those pardoned.

"Ahead of Belarus's Independence Day, 32 people were pardoned, 28 of whom were convicted of extremist crimes," the Belarusian presidency said in a statement on its website.

"A decree to this effect was signed by President Alexander Lukashenko," it added, saying 20 women and 12 men were freed.

Belarus has released hundreds of political prisoners since last year, in part to secure sanctions relief from the United States.

Among them are journalists, opposition politicians and activists.

Lukashenko, in power since 1994, denies his country has political prisoners.