13:39, 3 September 2003

Some Federation Council members declare for prolongation of amnesty in Chechnya

Federation Council Member for Chechnya Akhmar Zavgayev appeals to the State Duma deputies to prolong the term of the amnesty declared in the republic, which formally expired on Monday.

The senator expressed his opinion that the amnesty should be prolonged right up till the presidential election in Chechnya (appointed on October 5). "People voluntarily laying down arms will rather trust the security blankets given them by a legitimately elected president. The results will be more effective", Akhmar Zavgayev noted in his interview on Monday.

Another member of the Federation Council, Constitutional Legislature Committee Head Yury Sharandin considers it quite possible for the State Duma to prolong the amnesty term. "Deputies can either prolong the period of validity of the amnesty decree they issued earlier or issue a new one. It is just a matter of technique", said Yury Sharandin to the Interfax agency.

Source: Interfax News Agency