Kazakh parliament to debate amnesty law
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 21 October 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kazakh parliament to debate amnesty law, 21 October 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4ec503f7c.html [accessed 25 May 2013] |
| 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. |
October 21, 2011
ASTANA, October 21, 2011 (RFE/RL) – The Kazakh parliament is soon to debate a draft law that would grant an amnesty to thousands of prisoners on the occasion of Kazakhstan's independence anniversary, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
The parliament press service told journalists on October 21 that the draft law has been approved by the Parliamentary Committee for Judicial Reform and Legislation.
More than 13,000 prisoners from the total prison population of some 55,000 are expected to be released under the amnesty. Kazakhstan's population is 16.5 million.
Kazakhstan will mark the 20th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union on December 16. There have been seven national amnesties since then.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
