Lukashenko pardons jailed ex-presidential candidate

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned another candidate in last year's presidential election convicted for taking part in post-election protests, the presidential press office said on Sunday. "Being guided by the principles of humanity, the President of Belarus has pardoned another person convicted for street riots," the press office said, without disclosing the person's name. Some media reported on Saturday that ex-presidential candidate Dmitry Uss had been released from prison. At least five of the nine losing candidates in December's presidential elections were brought to trial and convicted following a brutal crackdown on rallies against the result of the vote, which Lukashenko won with a landslide. Three losing candidates - Nikolai Statkevich, Dmitry Uss and Andrei Sannikov - were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to six years in prison. The fourth, Vladimir Neklyaev, was sentenced to two years in prison with a two-year reprieve. Another candidate, Ales Mikhalevich, fled the country and was granted political asylum in Czech Republic. Vitaly Rymashevsky received a suspended sentence of two years. So far, only Statkevich and Sannikov remain in jail.