MOSCOW, October 30 (RAPSI) - 1,284 convicts have been released in Russia in accordance with economic crime amnesty passed about four months ago, business rights ombudsman Boris Titov told RAPSI on Wednesday. Titov expressed confidence that amnesty will be continued.

Moreover, on Wednesday, the Presidential Human Rights Council can adopt a law on business ombudsman in Russia, he added. "I'll thus have new powers. I'll be entitled to participate in court hearings and audits of businesses," Titov said.

On July 2, the bill on economic crime amnesty was approved by the State Duma and will be executed over the next six months.

The resolution releases from criminal liability, regardless of the designated prison term, individuals convicted or held liable under 27 articles of the Criminal Code related to business activities. For the amnesty to take effect, a suspect or a convict has to return the property or compensate the damages to the complainants.

The amnesty applies not only to individuals serving prison terms but also persons who received non-custodial or suspended sentences or were convicted on parole.  Earlier, Presidential Plenipotentiary at the State Duma of the Russian Federation Garry Minkh said that approximately 3,000 convicts must be amnestied.