United Russia has backed away from a proposal to grant amnesty to 333,200 people, including 46,200 prisoners, amid pressure from the Kremlin, Gazeta.ru reported Wednesday.
The party withdrew the amnesty bill from the State Duma in favor of an alternative that would grant amnesty to only about 100 war veterans, the author of the new bill, senior United Russia Deputy Pavel Krasheninnikov, told Gazeta.ru.
The Kremlin favored releasing about 50 war veterans from prison as part of celebrations for the 65th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany on May 9, a United Russia source told Gazeta.ru.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.