The Presidential Office, Ministry of Public Security, Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 4 held an international press conference to announce the President’s amnesty decision on the occasion of the National Day September 2.

Under the President’s decision, the time for consideration for amnesty is until August 31. The beneficiaries of amnesty are those serving fixed-term sentences in jail, life sentences reduced to fix-term sentences, and sentences suspended.

According to Deputy Chair of the Presidential Office Pham Thanh Ha, there are 15 groups of inmates not subject to amnesty. 

These include people sentenced to jail for treason to the fatherland; activities aiming at overthrowing the people's administration; espionage; infringing upon territorial security; riot crimes; terrorism to oppose the people's administration; sabotaging material and technical foundations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; making, storing, spreading or propagating information, documents and items aimed at opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and others.

Major General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said that amnesty is a major policy of the Party and State, showing humanity and leniency. The requirements for amnesty in 2022 are nearly the same as 2021.

In 2021, more than 3,000 prisoners received amnesty. Two of them have committed offenses again, while the others have been re-integrating well. 

At the press conference, reporters raised many questions about the number of prisoners to be granted amnesty and who can get amnesty. Phan Sao Nam, who has just returned to prison, is a well known one.

Long said it is necessary to follow a strict procedure when considering granting amnesty, so it is still unclear how many prisoners will get amnesty and how many can satisfy requirements for amnesty.

“All prisoners are equal and they will be considered for amnesty if they can satisfy the requirements. Phan Sao Nam and others, if meeting requirements, will be granted amnesty,” he said.

Regarding the requirements for criminals convicted of corruption and in economic cases, Long said one of the additional requirements is that they have to give back assets and compensate for damages.

Regarding foreign inmates, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc said there are 751 inmates in prisons. The number of inmates with foreign citizenship who can meet the requirements for amnesty will be publicized later.

Tran Thuong