Russia is preparing to release around a third of its prisoners this year under an amnesty Bill aimed at improving jail conditions, it was announced today.
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Russia has one of the biggest prison populations in the world with more than a million inmates. International human rights campaigners have condemned the squalid, disease-ridden conditions in which most prisoners live.
Justice Minister Mr Yuri Chaika told Interfax news agency in an interview if the amnesty Bill was passed by parliament up to 350,000 people could be freed.
Mr Chaika said the Bill had been submitted to the State Duma - the lower house of parliament - last year and had passed its first two readings. He said he expected it to be adopted sometime in first half of this year.
"Our goal is to get the maximum out of punitive practices, to move to more humanitarian methods of criminal prosecution and punishment," Mr Chiaka said. Russia traditionally announces amnesties on major national holidays. The government also views amnesties as a way to free up space in the country's crowded prisons.
Reuters