Tajik parliament passes amnesty law

AKIPRESS.COM - The Assembly of Representatives of Tajikistan approved the draft law on amnesty on Oct 25, the Tajik media reports.
This issue was discussed today during the meeting of the sixth session of the Assembly of Representatives, which was chaired by Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov.
The General Prosecutor of Tajikistan Yusuf Rahmon noted that the said law was developed with the aim of rehabilitating and reintroducing those who have committed crimes to peaceful life in society, and it envisages new regulatory standards for issues relating to exemption from criminal liability of persons, perpetrators of crimes, as well as reducing the unserved sentence.
"This law differs from the acts on amnesty adopted in previous years. According to preliminary data, it applies to more than 20,000 individuals who have committed crimes," said Yusuf Rahmon.
It was noted that the draft law consists of 22 articles. The provisions from Article 1 through Article 6 are devoted to the regulation of the law on the release from criminal liability of suspects, accused, defendants and those released from serving further sentence.
"According to preliminary data, using these articles, about 600 suspects, accused and defendants, 3,100 convicts held in correctional facilities, and 3,000 convicts serving sentences in correctional facilities will be released from serving further sentences," added Yusuf Rahmon.
"Also, more than 4,500 convicts who have been subjected to other punishments not related to deprivation of liberty are exempted from criminal liability," stated Yusuf Rahmon.
According to him, approximately 11,200 of the above persons will be exempted from criminal liability.
It was emphasized that according to the draft law, 165 out of 300 women serving sentences in women's prisons and 58 out of 75 minors serving sentences in educational institutions exempted from serving the remaining sentence.
"Men over 55 years of age, disabled, persons with serious illnesses, participants of World War II, participants of military operations in other countries, persons affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster are exempted from liability," stressed the Prosecutor General.
"In general, according to preliminary data, the term of unserved punishment will be reduced for more than 8,800 convicts," said Yusuf Rahmon.
The law "On Amnesty" was submitted to the Assembly of Representatives by President Emomali Rahmon using the current constitutional right, based on the humane principle of Tajik legislation as well as in honor of the 25th anniversary of the country's constitution.