Uzbekistan President signs decree to pardon nearly 500 individuals

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, signed a decree titled “On Pardoning a Group of Individuals Serving Sentences, Who Have Sincerely Repented and Taken the Path of Correction” on the eve of the holy Ramadan holiday, according to the Presidential Press Service.

According to the decree and by Article 109, Clause 23 of the Constitution of Uzbekistan, 488 individuals serving sentences who have sincerely repented and are firmly on the path to correction have been pardoned. Among those pardoned:

• 100 individuals have been fully released from their primary sentences.
• 268 individuals have been conditionally released before the end of their terms.
• The sentences of 34 individuals involving imprisonment have been replaced with lighter penalties.
• The terms of imprisonment for 86 individuals have been reduced.

The pardoned individuals include:

• 17 foreign citizens
• 37 women
• 37 men over the age of 60
• 167 youth, including 1 minor
• 5 individuals who had participated in prohibited organizations.

The decree also assigns responsible ministries and agencies the task of helping the pardoned individuals reintegrate into their families and communities, adapt to social life, engage in productive work, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and find their place in society.

Previously, on Independence Day, 522 prisoners were pardoned. Of those, 159 individuals were fully released from primary sentences, 303 individuals were conditionally released early, and 60 individuals had their imprisonment replaced with lighter penalties.