Macedonia adopts amnesty setting free 670 convicts

SKOPJE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Macedonian parliament on Monday adopted an amnesty law under which some 670 people sentenced to at least six month in prison will be fully exempted from serving time.

Convicts in prison for more serious crimes such as murder, rape and pedophilia, will be excluded from the amnesty.

The amnesty will not cover convicts who have committed crimes after Sept. 20, 2017, said a parliament press release.

There are also 3,097 convicts who, under the amnesty, will have their prison sentenced cut down by 30 percent.

The Ministry of Justice said the institution took the decision in light of the current conditions of correctional facilities across Macedonia. Enditem