Reports in Russia suggest that Russia’s ombudsman, Boris Titov’s proposal for an amnesty for approximately 110,000 businessmen convicted of economic crimes may be discussed at an upcoming meeting between President Putin and Russian business community.

Russian newspaper Vedomosti reports that Titov has organised for May 23 a meeting between Putin and approximately 60 representatives from the business community. The agenda for the meeting will focus on developing measures to boost the faltering Russian economy, such as incentive taxes, reducing tariffs for natural monopolies, loan rates, and policies for small business.

The amnesty is one of a number of measures aimed at improving the investment climate. Titov stated that the final agenda has not yet been approved; questions are being carefully prepared to systematically outline the nature of problems and suggestions. He also noted that the amnesty will only be discussed if it is judicially worked through.

According to one government representative, the amnesty and support for small businesses are the most important topics on the agenda.

David Yakobashvili, board member of The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs agreed:

“The amnesty has not been usedsince 2006; now 111,000 people are convicted for economic crimes. It is the time to let them go. Such measures will significantly change the investment climate; over 100,000 entrepreneurs can give work to about 1 million people, which are billions of dollars in payments to the treasury”.

Russian politician, Vladimir Ryzhkov, discussed the possibility of the amnesty during an interview with the Khodorkovsky Press Centre. During which Ryzhkov expressed his hopes that the amnesty “will be without exceptions and will be extended to all”.

The full video of Ryzhkov’s interview in Russian