It is impossible to carry out an amnesty for some women before the end of the year – Kommersant

Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that an amnesty for women convicted of non-violent crimes will not be possible until the end of 2023. The release of some prisoners was supported the day before by Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Human Rights Council (HRC).

“No, of course, it is impossible to carry it out so quickly (before the end of 2023 – Kommersant). First, we need to discuss the details, develop a position, and then talk specifically about something,” Mr. Peskov answered the corresponding question from a journalist during a press call.

The press secretary noted that it is also too early to talk about the list of categories of prisoners and specific persons who will be included in the amnesty.

At the HRC meeting, which took place on December 4, Council member Eva Merkacheva suggested pardon all women convicted of nonviolent crimes for the first time. She saidthat for violations in which no one was injured, the court imposes two to three times more years of imprisonment than for “rape and murder.”

Vladimir Putin supported the amnesty proposal, and called Ms. Merkacheva’s arguments convincing. He stated the need to “prepare and make appropriate decisions.”

The previous time an amnesty was held in Russia was in 2015 – it was timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. 220 thousand people fell under it. In July 2023, the State Duma proposed an amnesty named untimely due to a record decline in the prison population.

Petr Buzlaev