The pro-Kremlin United Russia party has proposed granting amnesty to over 300,000 convicts to mark the 65th anniversary of Russia's World War II victory, a Russian business daily said on Monday.
The government last granted amnesty on such a large scale in 2000, when more than 200, 000 prisoners were freed.
A United Russia representative told Vedomosti those convicted of economic crimes will not be granted amnesty, as a separate presidential law governs such convictions.
The newspaper said the amnesty is expected to mainly cover those with non-custodial sentences. Only 46,200 people will actually be released from prison, mainly including those sentenced to no more than two years for a deliberate crime or three years for an unintentional crime.
Regardless of the type of crime, amnesty will be granted to World War II veterans, servicemen, victims of the siege of Leningrad, concentration camp prisoners and participants of counter-terrorism operations. Pensioners, invalids, pregnant women and single parents will also receive amnesty if they have been convicted of minor crimes.
Human rights activist Valery Borshchev said that in reality the number of men due to walk free is "a drop in the ocean" as freed places in prisons will soon be occupied by new convicts.
MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti)
