Turkmen president pardons more than 600 inmates
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 June 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkmen president pardons more than 600 inmates, 11 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc04eeba.html [accessed 22 October 2022] |
| 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. |
June 11, 2018 08:58 GMT
By RFE/RL's Turkmen Service
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has pardoned 611 inmates on the occasion of a religious holiday, according to state media reports.
Berdymukhammedov was quoted as saying that the pardons were meant to mark the Night of Revelation, an important stage during the holy month of Ramadan, which is currently being observed by Muslims around the world.
His predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, issued similar amnesty decrees once a year during Ramadan.
Berdymukhammedov, an authoritarian ruler who controls all aspects of Turkmen society, has issued such decrees several times a year, usually on the eve of state holidays.
Last year, Berdymukhammedov pardoned more than 3,000 inmates on different occasions.
Such clemencies usually do not cover political prisoners.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
