The Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Russia’s ombudsman, Boris Titov, has proposed an amnesty for businessmen convicted of economic crimes to the State Duma; he is linking it to The Day of The Businessman, which takes place in Russia on May 26.

According to Titov, the amnesty would be “a signal for enthusiastic people” that are able to provide “a stable growing economy“. The Duma committee has stated that they will consider the initiative. However, the article also stated that no one can predict how this idea will be perceived by the leading political party United Russia, because such an amnesty would set free Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Read the full Kommersant article HERE

Khodorkovsky’s lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant commented:

“First of all, I wish Boris Titov success. But this idea has been around for at least two years. The proposal has already been made by the Presidential Human Rights Council; the draft was given to then Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev. But at that time, as we know, that did not lead to any decision or action. Since then, the relevance of this issue has not decreased, so if the current attempt is successful – well, this can only be welcomed.

I’d just like to note that, despite numerous idle speculations that amnesty means that a person subjected to it is guilty or requires recognition of his guilt – this is, of course, not true. The person who is subjected to an amnesty is only required to agree to be subjected to it. Thus, an act of amnesty, according to our law, can be applied without admission of guilt, and at the same time a convict can seek a review of his case if he considers himself not to be guilty and the sentence to be unjust.”

More of Klyuvgant’s comments can be found HERE