Lukashenka: has Bialiatski been released or not yet?

On 15 January Aliaksandr Lukashenka held a press-conference for Belarusian and foreign journalists. Answering a question he started talking about "Bialiatski or whatever". "Has he been released or not yet?", asked he a rhetorical question.

What concerns the possibility of release of political prisoners, his answer was short: "Read "Sovetskaya Belorussiya" and read the law," twice repeated Lukashenka.

He also tried to draw the journalists in a talk, asking "How many prisoners have been released?". However, the journalist Aksana Rudovich stopped him: "It's not a dialogue. I ask questions, and you answer".

Eventually, Lukashenka stated that political prisoners can be released after serving their terms. What concerns the possibility of release on decision of the head of the state, it is also "set forth in the law".