Uzbekistan approves mass prisoner amnesty

By Bahtiyar Abdukerimov

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AA) – The Uzbek Senate approved a mass amnesty of prisoners on Wednesday ahead of the Dec. 8 anniversary of the adoption of the country’s constitution.

The amnesty had been proposed by acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Tuesday. It will apply to sentenced women, jailed individuals under the age of 18 and prisoners who are over 60, as well as some to foreign nationals.

People convicted of crimes described as posing no danger to society -- plus first-time offenders – will also be released.

Uzbekistan’s parliament named former Prime Minister Mirziyoyev as acting president following the recent death of Islam Karimov.

Karimov had ruled the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.