Lukashenko pardons two Catholic priests at the request of Pope Leo
The decision to pardon them was made as a “gesture of goodwill” and aimed at developing Belarus’ relations with the Vatican.
On November 22, 2025, the spokesperson of the President of Belarus, Natalia Eismont, confirmed media reports that Alexander Lukashenko, at the personal request of Pope Leo XIV, pardoned two Catholic priests convicted of serious crimes against the state, BELTA’s correspondent reported.
The priests in question are Andrzej Jukhnevich and Henrikh Okolotovich. According to the Belarusian president’s administration, the decision was also made with the participation of Metropolitan Iosif Staneuski of Minsk–Mogilev.
The pardon was described as a “gesture of goodwill,” undertaken out of considerations of mercy and humanitarian principles, as well as in the interest of fostering relations between Belarus and the Vatican.
Eismont also reported that Minsk made another humanitarian decision “in furtherance of agreements” between the presidents of the United States and Belarus and at the request of the Ukrainian side. Lukashenko pardoned 31 Ukrainian citizens previously convicted in Belarus. The Belarusian government stated that this step was intended to help create conditions for a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in the neighboring country. The transfer of the pardoned individuals took place on the afternoon of November 22.
As the UOJ reported, the Vatican commented on the peace plan for Ukraine, noting that both sides would have to compromise.
