Radio Liberty’s Turkmen Service, locally known as Radio Azattyk, reports that Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has pardoned 868 convicts on the occasion of Turkmenistan’s Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 27.
Turkmen media reports say Turkmen leader issued a clemency decree guided by the principles of mercy and humanism as well as on the occasion of Turkmenistan’s Independence Day.
Berdymukhammedov has reportedly issued such decrees several times a year, usually on the eve of state holidays such as the upcoming Independence Day observance on September 27.
In a previous act of clemency, Berdymukhammedov announced in May the pardoning of 764 inmates to mark the Night of Revelation, an important stage during the holy month of Ramadan observed by Muslims around the world.
Berdymukhammedov's predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, issued similar amnesty decrees once a year during Ramadan, acceding to Radio Azattyk.
