Belarusian leader Lukashenko pardons 32 prisoners, his administration says

July ‌1 (Reuters) - Belarusian ​President ​Alexander Lukashenko has ‌pardoned 32 prisoners, of ⁠whom 28 ‌were serving sentences ‌for "extremism", a charge often used ​against opponents of his ⁠government, a Telegram channel linked ​to his administration said on Wednesday.

Lukashenko ​has freed ‌hundreds of people to ⁠date in return for an ⁠easing of U.S. ​sanctions, but Belarusian human rights group Viasna ‌says well over 800 political ‌prisoners ⁠remain in ‌jail.

(Reporting by ​Reuters; Editing by Mark ‌Trevelyan)

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