DUSHANBE, October 20, 2014, Asia-Plus — The board (Shuro) of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament discussed the draft law on amnesty at an October 20 meeting, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov.
Muhammadato Sultonov, the spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says the Majlisi Namoyandagon board also discussed amendments proposed to the country’s laws on internal troops, border troops, status of servicemen, state defense order, military pension benefits, combating terrorism, state forensic inquiry, state fingerprint registration, national security bodies, environmental protection, advertisement, civil defense, and especially preserved natural territories.
Besides, the board discussed issues related to ratification of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.
The board reportedly decided to carry out hearings over theimplementation of the law on the national budget for 2014 before the end of October.
“All issues discussed by the board have been sent for detailed study to the relevant Majlisi Namoyandagon committees,” Sultonov said.
We will recall that President Emomali Rahmon sent the draft law on amnesty for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon on October 20.
The amnesty will be announced on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Constitution.
Prisoners eligible for release reportedly include those who are disabled, World War II veterans, military deserters, convicts over 55, women and minors, those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses, and foreign nationals. The amnesty will also apply to participants of political and armed conflicts in Tajikistan. The amnesty will also extended to prisoners, who were imprisoned for up to five years for crimes of inconsiderable or middle gravity or have served three-quarters of their terms — except for those found guilty of murder, raping, terrorism, or other serious crimes.
According to the preliminary data, the 2014 amnesty is expected to apply to 10,000 people.
