TIRANE, Albania
Albania’s General Directorate of Prisons is freeing 15.9 per cent of its sentenced and detained persons, two weeks after the biggest amnesty of the past 22 years was decreed by the President and published in the official gazette.
900 out of the 5,646 of those sentenced and detained in Albania are being freed within the framework of an “Amnesty Award”.
Albania has 3,142 sentenced and 2,504 detained in its prisons across the country, according to the latest report of the General Directorate of Prisons in February 2014.
The release started on April 10th with 710 people, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency reported.
The Directorate of Prisons said that 900 sentenced and detained persons will be freed while those sentenced for criminal records can benefit from a sentence reduction.
Those sentenced to prison for minor crimes under three years will be released. Minors (under 18) imprisoned for petty crimes will also be released as well as men above 60-years of age and women over 50 - all with short-term convictions.
Those who are serving long sentences for serious crimes, may have their sentence reduced.
The “Amnesty Award” was adopted by the Albanian Parliament on the request of the government and decreed by Albanian President Bujar Nishani on March 25th.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
