Zelenskyy signs decree to pardon 31 convicted defenders of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree pardoning 31 convicted defenders of Ukraine, the president's press service has reported.

At the request of the advisory council on ensuring the rights and freedoms of defenders of Ukraine, the presidential pardon commission recommended that the head of state release or partially reduce the term of imprisonment for 31 convicted service members.

Taking into account the severity of the crimes committed, the actual length of time spent in prison, the personal characteristics of convicts, their family status, behavior before and after the conviction, compensation for damage, the opinion of the penitentiary authorities and other circumstances, in accordance with Clause 27 of Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine, Zelensky supported the commission's proposal and signed a decree pardoning the convicts.

Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, said that such a request for pardoning the military had been made for the first time in Ukraine's recent history. In determining the persons for pardon, their merits before the state were taken into account.

According to Andriy Hota, head of the pardon commission, persons who did not commit serious crimes were selected during the consideration of the cases. The Ukrainian president personally got acquainted with the case of each service member who was recommended to be pardoned.

Hota noted that the pardon does not apply to cases involving the military who caused a car accident in a state of alcoholic intoxication. Cases of those convicted of murder are also not considered.