Kazakh amnesty to affect tens of thousands
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 2 December 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kazakh amnesty to affect tens of thousands, 2 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a2d6c.html [accessed 19 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. |
December 02, 2016
The official declined to comment on the possible release of recently jailed land-reform protesters and the chairman of the Kazakh Journalists' Union, Seitqazy Mataev (pictured).
Kazakh authorities say a proposed mass amnesty of prisoners would affect tens of thousands of people.
President Nursultan Nazarbaev proposed the amnesty on November 29 to mark the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence.
Lawmakers are expected to adopt the proposal before Independence Day on December 16.
Deputy Prosecutor-General Iogan Merkel said on December 2 that if adopted, it would affect 30,000 convicts and people held in pretrial detention.
He said 1,800 of them would be freed and the rest would see their prison terms shortened.
Merkel declined to comment on the possible release of recently jailed land-reform protesters and the chairman of the Kazakh Journalists' Union, Seitqazy Mataev.
Some 36,000 persons are currently in Kazakhstan's jails either serving prison sentences or awaiting trial.
Based on reporting by Tengrinews and Kazinform
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
