Doc. 9364

5 February 2002

Presidential Pardon Commission of the Federation of Russia

Written Question No. 407 to the Committee of Ministers
by Mr Rudolf Bindig

      Recalling that, at the end of December last year, the President of the Russian Federation dissolved the Presidential Pardon Commission by decree, ordering its replacement by regional commissions, which have, however, yet to be set up;

      In view of the fact that the Presidential Pardon Commission acted as a de facto parole board in the Russian Federation, and treated tens of thousands of requests in the past few years,

      Mr Bindig,

To ask the Committee of Ministers,

      How it views this development, which might deprive thousands of prisoners of the possibility to ask for and receive clemency in the next few months, in the country with the highest incarceration rate in Europe.

Signed: ¹

Bindig, Germany, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group