Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament has endorsed a darft law on amnesty. Tajik chief prosecutor says the amnesty announced in Tajikistan on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Constitution will extend to more than 20,000 people, including foreign nationals.
A regular sitting of the Majlii Namoyandagon, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, took place on October 25.
Presenting the bill to lawmakers, Tajik Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon said 3,100 convicts would be released from prisons and 3,000 inmates of corrective labor colonies would be released..
Besides, 4,500 individuals whose sentences were not associated with imprisonment will be pardoned as well, according to the chief prosecutor.
The amnesty is reportedly also applied to 600 defendants and suspects awaiting legal proceedings in pretrial detention facilities and probe against them will be stopped.
“Thus, 11,200 people are exempted from criminal liability,” Yusuf Rahmon noted.
According to him, the released prisoners include 165 of 300 women serving their jail terms in a female penal, and 58 of 75 minors serving their terms in juvenile correctional facilities.
Prisoners eligible for release under the upcoming amnesty also include foreign nationals, people with disabilities, World War II veterans, military deserters, convicts over 55, and those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses. The amnesty also extends to persons serving jail terms for economic crimes if they pay damages.
The amnesty also extends to persons serving their jail terms for serious crimes who have served three-quarters of their terms — except for those found guilty of murder, terrorism, human trafficking, rape, torture and so forth.
In addition, prison terms of almost 10,000 inmates will be shortened.
There have been 15 mass amnesties in Tajikistan since it gained its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The amnesties have not affected individuals convicted on politically motivated charges.
