MOSCOW, December 10. /ITAR-TASS/. The State Duma, lower house of Russian parliament, will consider an amnesty bill dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Russian Constitution until December 21, the head of Duma committee on civil, criminal, arbitrary and procedure legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“We have no choice. We have to consider this issue either this week or next week. The amnesty is to enter into force until the end of the year,” he said.

“The schedule of debates, including possible amendments, will be defined in the shortest possible timeframe,” Krasheninnikov said.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a draft decree on amnesty to the State Duma for consideration. According to the accompanying papers, the amnesty should encompass up to 25,000 prisoners.

Deciding to hold an amnesty is the exclusive competence of Russia’s State Duma.