Turkmen president pardons more than 1,000 prisoners
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 19 June 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkmen president pardons more than 1,000 prisoners, 19 June 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59818dfbc.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| 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 19, 2017 09:32 GMT
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov
State media in Turkmenistan are reporting that President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has pardoned more than 1,000 prisoners.
Media outlets quote Berdymukhammedov as saying that the amnesty is linked to the Night of Blessing, which is observed by Muslims during their holy month of Ramadan.
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.
His last clemency, announced in February, pardoned 828 inmates on the eve of the Central Asian country's Flag Day holiday.
Such amnesties usually do not cover inmates convicted on politically motivated charges.
Based on reports by turkmenistan.gov.tm and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
