Lukashenka signs amnesty law
The law is timed to mark 70 years since victory in the Great Patriotic War. Over 2 thousands will be released and 8.6 thousands amnestied.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka has signed the law "On amnesty in connection with the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." This was announced on Thursday, May 28th. The law comes into force on the day of its official publication. The amnesty process could last for six months.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on amnesty on 13 May. The Council of the Republic approved it on May 20.
The peculiarity of this year's amnesty is in the wider list of persons who may be released from prison over those convicted for economic crimes. In particular, we are talking about the people who are serving time for violating the law of entrepreneurship. For them, the release will be possible, if they have already served one-third of the punishment and have the positive reviews from the prison administration. They must also fully compensate the material damage caused to the state.
It is expected that 2.2 thousands will be released from prison, and in total 8.6 thousands will be amnestied.
The current amnesty is the 14th one during the independence of Belarus.
Photo: Fotolia
