Photo: yuz.uz
On the eve of Independence Day, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree pardoning 523 prisoners who had sincerely repented and embarked on the path of rehabilitation, according to the presidential press service. The document was issued ahead of the celebration of the republic’s 34th anniversary of independence.
Of those pardoned, 195 were fully released from serving their sentences, 147 were granted early conditional release, and sentences for 87 people were reduced to lighter penalties. Prison terms were shortened for 94 inmates.
Among those pardoned:
✔️ 8 foreign nationals
✔️ 45 women
✔️ 31 men over the age of 60
✔️ 220 people under the age of 30, including one minor
✔️ 15 individuals formerly involved in banned organizations
The presidential decree also instructs the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure the return of pardoned citizens to their families, provide assistance with social reintegration, employment, and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, and help them take their place in society.
The previous pardon by Mirziyoyev was timed to coincide with the Ramazan Hayit holiday, celebrated on March 30, when 488 prisoners were released.
In Uzbekistan, presidential pardons are typically issued three times a year: ahead of Ramazan Hayit, Independence Day (September 1), and Constitution Day (December 8). For example, in 2024, the total number of pardoned individuals amounted to 1,431.
