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70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

First prisoners to walk free under Russian Victory Day amnesty before May 9 — lawmaker

Up to 60,000 convicts and up to 200,000 people under suspended sentences may be released during this year’s amnesty campaign in Russia

© ITAR-TASS/Donat Sorokin

MOSCOW, April 28. /TASS/. The first prisoners will be released in Russia under the amnesty on occasion of the 70th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany until May 9, the head of the Russian State Duma’s committee for civil, criminal, arbitration and procedural legislation said on Tuesday.

"The amnesty will work before May 9," Pavel Krasheninnikov stressed.

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Amnesty freedom ruled out in high-profile trial convictions — ombudsman

Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service held the first meeting on Friday and issued instructions for local authorities on "rehabilitating those people who will be freed on amnesty," he said.

"We have our finger on the pulse," he said, adding that those to be released first are people who took part in combat actions, mothers of underage children, single fathers and Chernobyl nuclear disaster cleanup veterans.

Although the amnesty will last for six months, the majority of persons belonging to this category should walk free before May 9, Krasheninnikov said, stressing that: "This is very important."

The lawmaker confirmed that up to 60,000 convicts and up to 200,000 people under suspended sentences may be released during this year’s amnesty campaign in Russia.

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, declared amnesty on April 24 on occasion of the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It came into effect on the same day.

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Russia's domestic policy 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

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