Russian State Duma Approves Amnesty for Quarter-Million Convicts

The amnesty is one in connection with the 70th anniversary of Victory Day and will free first-time offenders sentenced for non-violent crimes.

Russia's State Duma unanimously passed a law granting amnesty to prisoners on Friday, in connection with the 70th anniversary of Victory Day on May 9.

The amnesty will free 60,000 prisoners and 200,000 people given suspended sentences according to preliminary estimates. The amnesty will not impact people sentenced for corruption, recidivism or violent crimes.

"The Federal Penitentiary Service [FSIN] will take all measures to free the amnestied people as soon as possible," a representative of FSIN Kristina Belousova told RIA Novosti.

Most prisoners will be freed within a month of the law's signing, although the entire process may take up to half a year. The amnesty will be done on a case by case basis.

Among the people subject to amnesty are first-time offenders convicted for drunk driving as well as people who are disabled or living under the poverty line.

Russia traditionally grants convicts amnesty during Victory Day celebrations. The most massive amnesty was in 2000, when 306,000 prisoners were freed.