DUSHANBE, October 20, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today sent the draft law on amnesty for consideration to Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, President’s Executive Office jointly with representatives of the law enforcement agencies worked out the draft law on amnesty on the instruction of the president.

The amnesty will be announced on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Constitution.

Prisoners eligible for release reportedly include those who are disabled, World War II veterans, military deserters, convicts over 55, women and minors, those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses, and foreign nationals.  The amnesty will also apply to participants of political and armed conflicts in Tajikistan.  The amnesty will also extended to prisoners, who were imprisoned for up to five years for crimes of inconsiderable or middle gravity or have served three-quarters of their terms -- except for those found guilty of murder, raping, terrorism, or other serious crimes.

According to the preliminary data, the 2014 amnesty is expected to apply to 10,000 people.   

There have been thirteen amnesties in Tajikistan since 1991.  Under the most recent, in July 2011, more than 4,300 prisoners, including 196 women and 153 minors, were released and some 5,000 prisoners had their jail terms reduced.  The 2011 amnesty, announced on the occasion of Tajikistan’s 20th Independence Anniversary, also extended to more than 5,000 people awaiting legal proceedings in pretrial detention.

Prisoners eligible for release under the 2011 amnesty also included people with disabilities, World War II veterans, military deserters, convicts over 55, and those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses.  The 2011 amnesty also extended to members of banned Islamic groups and political parties who were imprisoned for up to five years or have served three-quarters of their terms -- except for those found guilty of murder, terrorism, or other serious crimes.

Under the previous amnesty that was declared in November 2009, some 10,000 prisoners were released.

According to the statistical data from the Ministry of Justices, more than 10,000 people are currently serving their jail terms in 17 penitentiary institutions in Tajikistan.