BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/11/2007

Amnesty Comes Into Forece In Belarus

An amnesty providing for the release of almost 1,700 prisoners came into force in Belarus on November 28 with its publication in the "Respublika" newspaper, Belapan reported. The Belarusian legislature adopted the bill on October 24, and Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed it on November 22. The amnesty was issued with the goal of saving $935,000 in public funds each year. It applies to people convicted of crimes punishable by no more than six years in prison and who have served at least one-third of their sentences; war veterans; people of retirement age; pregnant women; people with disabilities; youths under 18; parents of children under 18; former Chornobyl cleanup workers; people with HIV or tuberculosis; and those injured while working. The amnesty does not apply to those who committed crimes after having been amnestied previously, or those with poor disciplinary records. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/11/3-cee/cee-291107.asp