KHUJAND, August 26, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- 700 prisoners, or some 70 percent of prison inmates serving their terms in penal colonies in Sughd province, will be released on August 28 under this year’s amnesty, Olimjon Saidolimov, the head of the Sughd department for execution of criminal penalties, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, among those amnestied are also persons convicted for membership in the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir and supporters of the mutinous Colonel Mahmoud Khudoiberdiyev.

“Unfortunately, some 15-20 percent of amnestied prisoners commit crimes again,” said Saidolimov, “They are mainly hooligans, frauds and thieves.”

We will recall that the amnesty is timed to coincide with the country''s celebrations to mark 20 years of independence on September 9.

Prisoners eligible for release include those who are disabled, World War II veterans, military deserters, persons over the age of 55, and those suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses.

People sentenced for economic crimes may be released if they have repaid the financial losses they caused.  Former rebels who fought government troops in 1997-98 are also eligible for amnesty.

The amnesty extends to members of banned Islamic groups and political parties who were imprisoned for up to five years or have served three-quarters of their terms, except for those found guilty of murder, terrorism, or other serious crimes.

In addition to those released from jail or pretrial detention, thousands more may have their prison terms cut or their suspended sentences annulled.

Some 15,000 people stand to benefit from the amnesty, including 4,000 people who could be released from prison.  This is the 13th amnesty the government has approved.