Acting Uzbek president proposes prisoner amnesty
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Acting Uzbek president proposes prisoner amnesty, 11 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a0c813.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 11, 2016
Acting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Acting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyaev has proposed an amnesty for prisoners in honor of Constitution Day, which is marked on December 8.
The Uzbek parliament's upper chamber, the Senate, said during its session on October 10 that the amnesty proposes to release female inmates, people who were convicted of crimes when they were underage, male inmates over 60 years of age, foreigners, and handicapped prisoners, among others.
The Senate will make its final decision on the proposal on October 12.
The amnesty would be the first clemency adopted after longtime Uzbek leader Islam Karimov's death was officially announced on September 2.
Previous amnesties linked to Constitution Day were adopted only several days before the December 8 holiday.
Many in Uzbekistan consider Mirziyaev's early announcement of a prisoner pardon as a way to win more supporters ahead of the December 4 presidential election.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
