Chechnya's Prosecutor: Militants can still be amnestied

Vladimir Kravchenko, the Chechen Republic's Prosecutor told RIA Novosti Chechen militants still have a chance to take advantage of amnesty in spite of the fact that today its term is running out.

He emphasized that, according to the current Russian legislation, all participants of illegal armed formations (IAF), not involved in grave crimes, those who voluntarily terminated participation in IAF and laid down their arms, are relieved from criminal prosecution.

Amnesty for the militants was announced by President Putin and was implemented since June 7.

The Prosecutor announced that during this time 171 militants turned to Chechnya's law-enforcement bodies with their decision to give up participation in illegal armed formations.

The Chechen Prosecutor General's Office made a decision not to launch criminal proceeding against 143 of them. As far as the rest are concerned, verification is under way concerning their association with grave crimes.

Chechnya's Prosecutor noted that all who came voluntarily were "mainly young people between 20 and 40 years."