DUSHANBE, August 17, Asia-Plus - The amnesty law adopted by Tajik MPs today is less politicized that those adopted in the previous years, Mr. Muhiddin Kabiri, member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Youth Policy also the deputy head of Tajikistan’s Islamic Revival Party (IRPT), told journalists today following the Majlisi Namoyandagon’s extraordinary session.   

“The previous laws (10 amnesty laws, including this year’s one, have been adopted in Tajikistan since 1993 – Asia-Plus) were aimed at settling concrete tasks, including reestablishment of peace and solution of geopolitical issues after the civil conflict in the country,” Tajik MP said.  While this year’s amnesty applies to people irrespective of their sex, ethnicity and political views, according to him.   .

Mr. Kabiri does not rule out that this move taken by the president may influence the upcoming presidential election set for November this year.   

Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee for Public Order, Defense and Security, Abdumannon Kholiqov, considers that this year’s amnesty law differs considerably from the amnesty law adopted in 2001. “This year’s amnesty law is intended for broader sphere of application,” Mr. Kholiqov said.  

Tajikistan’s Prosecutor-General, Bobojon Bobokhonov, noted that the amnesty law adopted in 2001 was set to free more than 20,000 convicts.