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United Russia Plans Mass Amnesty

United Russia has drafted a bill that would grant amnesty to 46,200 prisoners in honor of the 65th anniversary of Russia's victory in World War II on May 9, the party said Monday.

The bill, which has been submitted to the State Duma, would grant amnesty to 333,200 people overall, including World War II veterans and people serving suspended sentences, mostly for economic crimes, United Russia said in a statement.

The bill would also grant amnesty to some military veterans who fought Chechen rebels, as well as some people who are disabled, elderly and underage, Interfax reported.

"The amnesty will not destroy the public order," United Russia said.

By law, an amnesty cannot be granted to people convicted of murder or the sexual abuse of minors or to those who violate prison rules or commit a new crime in prison, the statement said.

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