Amnesty expected to be announced in Tajikistan on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of constitution

On the instruction of the president the President’s Executive Office jointly with representatives of the law enforcement agencies has reportedly worked out a draft law on amnesty that is expected to extend to more than 20,000 prisoners.

The amnesty is reportedly also applied to 2,000 defendants and suspects awaiting legal proceedings in pretrial detention facilities.

The draft law has already been submitted for consideration to Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament.

Prisoners eligible for release under the upcoming amnesty include 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.