Opinions & Interviews

Kochanova: Amnesty is act of mercy and applies only to those who chose path of rehabilitation

MINSK, 2 May (BelTA) - Amnesty is an act of mercy and applies only to those who have shown good behavior and have embarked on the path of rehabilitation, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova said at a sitting of the second session of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the eighth convocation. On 2 May, the Council of the Republic passed the bill on amnesty in connection with the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, BelTA learned.

The Speaker noted that the bill had been prepared on the instructions of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “The amnesty ahead of Great Victory Day, the most important state holiday, reflects the special humanistic approach of the criminal-legal policy of our state,” she noted.

“The amnesty does not challenge the legality and validity of court rulings, but is an act of mercy to persons who have committed crimes and also to their families: spouses, children, parents, who certainly need the support of loved ones,” Natalya Kochanova said. “At the same time, the amnesty applies only to those who have shown good behavior and have taken the path of rehabilitation.”

This is the fifth amnesty in the last seven years (since 2019), the speaker added. “As statistics shows, it has no impact on the crime situation in the country. Amnesty is not just a chance for early release. It is a holistic system to make sure people released on amnesty do not reoffend,” Natalya Kochanova added.

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