Russian Parliament Passes Amnesty Bill on Chechen Rebels

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 05, 2003

Russian Parliament Passes Amnesty Bill on Chechen Rebels

The lower house of the Russian parliament passed on Wednesday the second reading of a bill to grant amnesty to Chechen rebels, the Interfax news agency reported.

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The lower house of the Russian parliament passed on Wednesday the second reading of a bill to grant amnesty to Chechen rebels, the Interfax news agency reported.

Three hundred lawmakers in the State Duma voted in favor of theamnesty, with two against and one abstention.

The amnesty will pardon people who committed crimes within the territory of the former Chechen-Ingush republic between August 1, 1993, and the date of the enactment of the amnesty.

Those who ceased armed resistance and voluntarily surrendered military equipment before the extended deadline of September 1, instead of the original August 1, 2003, will also be eligible to thebill.

Federal servicemen suspected of abuses and members of other security agencies will also enjoy the amnesty.

But the bill will not be granted to those who have committed grave crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape and assault, as well asforeigners and people without citizenship.

The State Duma passed the first reading of the president-proposed bill on May 21. The document will come into force after being approved by the third reading on Wednesday.

The amnesty bill, initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin,aims to advance peace in the war-torn republic in Russia's Northern Caucasus.

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