Medvedev Asks Parliament to Grant Amnesty for Economic Criminals
On Tuesday, President Dmitry Medvedev told members of his Open Government initiative at a meeting in Moscow that parliament must decide whether amnesty may granted to prisoners charged with economic crimes in Russia according to a report from RIA Novosti.
Medvedev said, “Amnesty is quite a possible thing, although it is unpopular for obvious reasons – because it reminds everyone of the Cold Summer of 1953.” The Supreme Soviet issued the Decree on Amnesty in March 1953, which caused a spike in crime after thousands of criminals were released from jail.
He added, “But this could be considered, and we have to address our appeals to the State Duma, because it is the parliament that declares amnesty, not the president. The president only has the right to grant a pardon.”
RIA Novosti reports that supporters of political prisoners like Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev may be encouraged by Medvedev’s words.
