Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev, a dissident who was released from a psychiatric hospital in April (file photo) (Amnesty International) May 23, 2006 - Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov has announced that he will pardon 10,000 prisoners convicted of minor crimes to mark the 15th anniversary of his country's independence, which will be celebrated in October.
Amnestied inmates are generally requested to swear on the Koran and Niyazov's own book of religious writings, "Rukhnama," to never commit crimes again.
(turkmenistan.ru, AP)
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