TIRANA, April 4 /ATA/ – Albanian Parliament approved on Thursday a criminal amnesty bill to see those serving shorter sentences for lesser crimes, those over a certain age, and many female prisoners released or benefiting from sentence reductions.
The bill was passed in principle with 116 votes in favor, one vote against and no abstentions in the 140-seat Parliament.
An amendment proposed by the chair of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group was approved by 113 votes. A total of 118 lawmakers attended today’s plenary session.
A total of 700 inmates will be pardoned and released immediately, whereas hundreds of others will have their sentences reduced and trial suspended under an amnesty proposed by the Ministry of Justice.
In the meantime, as many as 2700 individuals currently on probation will also benefit from the amnesty.
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