State Duma passes resolution on amnesty in Chechnya

On Friday the State Duma /the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament/ passed in the third, final reading the resolution "On announcing an amnesty in connection with adoption of the Chechen constitution".

The amnesty involves both members of illegal armed formations and participants of counter-terrorist operations.

The draft resolution "On announcing an amnesty in connection with adoption of the Chechen constitution" was introduced to the State Duma on May 15th by the Russian President.

According to the resolution, the State Duma announces an amnesty "on a humanism principle" and "for strengthening civil peace and harmony".

Criminal proceedings will not be launched against those who committed socially dangerous acts during armed conflicts and /or/ counter-terrorist operations in the former Chechen-Ingushian Autonomous Soviet Social Republic. It touches upon those who refused to participate in illegal armed formations or voluntarily surrendered their arms and military equipment.

Criminal proceedings will not be launched either against military men who committed crimes during armed conflicts or counter-terrorist operations on the same territory.

The amnesty also involves those who committed socially dangerous acts in the period from December 12th 1993 till the day the resolution on amnesty comes into force /which will be on the day of its official publication/, who refused to participate in illegal armed formations or voluntarily surrendered their arms and military equipment till September 1st 2003, 00.00.

The amnesty does not involve those who committed a murder, a kidnapping, a rape, a robbery as well as some other serious and especially serious crimes. The amnesty will not involve foreigners, people without citizenship and those who committed especially serious second offences.

The resolution will come into force on the day of its official publication. According to the legislation on federal laws' publication and coming into force, the adopted resolution must be published within seven days after its adoption.