Why the kremlin refused to grant amnesty for Victory Day
The kremlin has officially confirmed that there will be no amnesty in russia for the 80th anniversary of the victory over nazism. Mass amnesties on Victory Day in anniversary years are a long-standing tradition in russia. For example, in 2015 (the 70th anniversary of Victory), up to 300,000 convicts were released from prisons.
▫️Unofficially, the authorities’ position was recently voiced by the head of the russian state duma’s defense committee, andrei kartapolov. He stated that an amnesty for the 80th anniversary of Victory is “not necessary,” as convicts have the option of leaving prison by signing a contract for military service and going to war.
The kremlin’s refusal to declare an amnesty for Victory Day is a highly symbolic decision. In the past, russia used these “festive” mass releases to emphasize the so-called “humanism of the heirs of the great victory.” However, under putin’s regime, war is now the top priority — and prisons have become a valuable source of manpower for the army.
