Amnesty Bills Rejected by Russian Parliament
The State Duma of the Russian Federation has rejected eight separate amnesty bills submitted over the past five years. The last large-scale amnesty in the country occurred in 2015, marking an unprecedented decade-long pause in pardons under the current Russian constitution. According to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service (SZR), Russia has instead adopted a policy of releasing prisoners through participation in combat operations, making this the primary form of clemency in lieu of a formal amnesty. This practice is widely seen as a method to bolster its military forces for the war in Ukraine.
Since 2022, Russian courts have convicted over 8,000 returning war participants. Among them, nearly 900 individuals were involved in cases concerning violent crimes. This situation has raised significant alarm, as at least 423 people in Russia have already been killed by these pardoned veterans since their return. A relevant State Duma committee has claimed that amnesty has lost its relevance due to an alleged humanization of criminal legislation, a justification met with skepticism by human rights observers.
Groups Denied Amnesty by Deputies
The categories of individuals that deputies have refused to grant amnesty to include:
- Mothers with children
- People with disabilities
- Veterans
- Entrepreneurs
- Journalists
- Government critics
- Protest participants
- Widows of participants in the so-called "special military operation"
This list demonstrates that the issue of amnesty in Russia remains highly sensitive and politically motivated, effectively excluding many vulnerable and dissenting groups.
The rejection of amnesty legislation underscores the current political climate in Russia and the authorities' unwillingness to make concessions on human rights issues. Given the high numbers of convictions, particularly in the context of the war, the situation is likely to fuel further social tensions. The absence of amnesty for these specific population categories indicates that the Russian government continues to maintain strict control and avoids potential political risks associated with pardoning critics or protesters, prioritizing battlefield recruitment over judicial leniency.