A Presidential order encouraging the Presidential Human Rights Council to make suggestions for an amnesty marking the 20th anniversary of Russia’s adoption of its post-Soviet constitution is reported on the Russian radio station Echo of Moscow. 

The Presidential order was made on September 24^th and the Council has a deadline of October 15 to submit its proposals.

Mara Polyakova, a member of the Presidential Human Rights Council suggested an amnesty for the ‘Bolotnaya case’ defendants and former Yukos owners Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. “I am in favour of a wide amnesty, as this would be a manifestation of humanity and justice” – said Polyakova.

Reuters reported that such a gesture by Putin could enable him to reject criticism that the Russian courts are used to silence his political opponents. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said it was too early to tell whom the amnesty might cover.

Khodorkovsky is scheduled for release in August 2014, however many are sceptical about his prospects.  Analysts said any amnesty was likely to be limited in scope and highly unlikely to include such figures as Khodorkovsky or protest leader Alexei Navalny.