Parliament Approves Amnesty for ATO Participants

The Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on amnesty for participants of the Anti-Terrorist Operation. It was adopted by 247 MPs immediately after it was put on the agenda.

Chairman of Parliament Andriy Parubiy has told "This draft law provides for amnesty to our servicemen who sometimes went to war even not having war documents." "To prevent their prosecution, we need to adopt this law." It’s not about populism, it’s about support for our guys who are currently under police investigation," he added.

In particular, the law aims to release persons from liability who defend the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, directly took part in the ATO and who obtained the status of ATO participants, if they have been accused of committing non-grave crimes."

The law is to be implemented by the courts. The courts have to apply amnesty upon the initiative of the prosecutors, a penitentiary facility, a suspect or his/her supporter.

Source: Olena Roshchenko, Ukrayinska Pravda