The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted the new version of the law on amnesty in Ukraine.
A total of 309 MPs voted to pass this law on Feb. 17, 2011.
According to the law, the amnesty is declared by the amnesty law, which, in turn, can provide for a relief from serving the punishment (a complete amnesty) or a partial relief from the sentence (partial amnesty).
The law can not provide for the replacement of one sentence by another or clearing of a criminal record of people who are discharged from punishment.
The decision to announce or not to announce amnesty is made by a court in respect of each person individually after the examination of the personal file, materials and data on the behavior of the convicts during serving their sentences.
The law defines a list of people who do not fall under the amnesty.
The Verkhovna Rada can pass the amnesty laws, except the law on conditional amnesty, not more frequently than once a year. The amnesty law is subject to mandatory publication in the official newspapers of the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
