Yesterday at 23:50
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to pardon 31 convicted defenders of Ukraine.
This is reported by UA with the reference to the Office of the President of Ukraine.
At the request of the advisory council on ensuring the rights and freedoms of defenders of Ukraine, the presidential pardon commission recommended that the head of state release or partially reduce the term of imprisonment for 31 convicted service members.
Taking into account the severity of the crimes committed, the actual length of time spent in prison, the personal characteristics of convicts, their family status, behavior before and after the conviction, compensation for damage, the opinion of the penitentiary authorities and other circumstances, in accordance with Clause 27 of Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine, Zelenskyy supported the commission’s proposal and signed a decree pardoning the convicts.
According to the head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, such a separate request for military pardon was made for the first time in the recent history of Ukraine. In determining the persons for pardon, their merits before the state were taken into account.
Andriy Hota, head of the pardon commission, said that persons who did not commit serious crimes were selected during the consideration of the cases. The President of Ukraine personally got acquainted with the case of each servicemen who was recommended to be pardoned.
Hota noted that the pardon, in particular, does not apply to cases involving the military who committed an accident while intoxicated. Cases of those convicted of murder are also not considered. The chairman of the commission noted that a psychologist would work with the released persons to work on their combat injuries and help them socialize. The signing of the decree was preceded by hard work. Aliona Verbytska, Chair of the Advisory Council on Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Defenders of Ukraine, visited about 40% of the colonies, as well as correctional centers and pre-trial detention centers, and met with more than 200 convicted servicemen.
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