Belarusian leader Lukashenko pardons 16 people, including some convicted of extremism, Belta reports

MOSCOW, July 2 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 16 people convicted of various crimes, including extremism, ahead of the country's independence day, the state-run outlet Belta reported on Wednesday.

Those pardoned include eight women and eight men, several of whom have chronic diseases, are disabled or have children under 18, Belta said.

The news comes after Lukashenko freed leading Belarus opposition figure Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 others last month following talks with U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg