DUSHANBE, October 24, 2014, Asia-Plus — A draft law on amnesty submitted by the president for consideration to the parliament will not apply to those convicted of serious crimes, the head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Defense and Security, Amirqul Azimov, told Asia-Plus Friday afternoon.
“The bill does not grant amnesty to those convicted of murder, rape, terrorism, espionage, treason, or public calls for the forcible overthrow of or change to the constitutional order of Tajikistan,” MP Azimov noted.
According to him the amnesty will also not apply to those convicted of a large-scale drug trafficking.
We will recall that 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 serious crimes.
According to the preliminary data, the 2014 amnesty is expected to apply to 10,000 people.
A previous amnesty law in 2011 granted freedom to 4,300 prisoners, reduced jail sentences for another 5,000 inmates, and dropped the charges against 5,000 accused.
