No Freedom: Political Prisoners in Russia Will Not Be Released Under Amnesty

Political prisoners will not be included in the amnesty proposed by Communist Party lawmakers to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The amnesty initiative excludes individuals convicted under specific articles related to army discreditation, reports NewsBox.

A bill on amnesty, timed to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, has been submitted to the State Duma. The document, prepared by members of the Communist Party led by Gennady Zyuganov, proposes pardoning several categories of offenders, including first-time offenders of minor and moderate crimes, veterans, individuals with disabilities (I and II groups), pregnant women, and minors.

However, the amnesty will not extend to those convicted under certain articles of the Criminal Code. Specifically exempt from its scope are articles 280.3 (repeated discreditation of the Russian Armed Forces), 207.3 (spreading false information about the Russian military), and 205.2 (calls for terrorist activities and their justification). Consequently, even those who otherwise qualify for amnesty under these conditions will not be eligible for release if convicted under these articles.

Some deputies from the 'United Russia' party had previously expressed opposition to the amnesty, arguing that convicts can "redeem themselves" by signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense and participating in military operations.

The last major amnesty in Russia took place in 2015, impacting around 60,000 prisoners and up to 200,000 individuals with conditional sentences. A final decision on the new amnesty will be made after the document is reviewed in the State Duma.