President grants amnesty in connection with Year of Youth

President Vladimir Voronin tabled an amnesty bill as legislative initiative to the Parliament in connection with the Year of Youth. The head of state demanded that the bill is examined without delay, during the present session of the legislature, the presidential press service informed, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The amnesty will be granted for detainees younger than 21, according to the gravity of the committed offences and the behavior in prison. The lawbreakers that committed minor and less serious offences (168 persons, including 8 women) will be pardoned. A part of the non-served sentence of those that committed serious and extremely serious offences (518 persons) and of those that committed again premeditated crimes after amnestied will be reduced since the law takes effect. Similar norms will be used for convicted women that have children younger than 8 and preserved their parental rights. Under the legislative initiative, the young persons will be exempted from accountability and punishment since the trial phase. A number of 686 convicts aged under 21, including 101 minors, were held in penitentiaries on April 1.