MOSCOW, December 5. /TASS/. The issue of pardoning certain categories of women serving prison sentences discussed at a meeting yesterday of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, which Russian President Vladimir Putin attended, is still subject to review, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Replying to a question on which specific categories of women sentenced for non-violent crimes may be eligible under the amnesty proposal discussed at yesterday’s meeting, the Kremlin official said: "Yesterday, the president said that this issue is worth being considered and worked through, so currently, of course, there are no specifics; all of this still has to be reviewed."

Peskov also specified that no amnesty could be carried out before the end of this year because there is not enough time to do so. "No, certainly, it is impossible to carry it out that quickly," he noted. According to him, first the relevant details must be worked out and the specific position should be established, "and only then would it be possible to talk about something specifically." He confirmed that it is still premature to discuss any specific candidates for such a pardon.

On Monday, at a session of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, Putin allowed for the amnesty of "certain categories of women" now serving time in Russian correctional institutions after hearing a report by council member Eva Merkacheva, who proposed that women sentenced for non-violent crimes with no victims be released early before the end of their prison terms.