MOSCOW, February 4 (RAPSI) – More than 2,300 convicts have been released in Russia in accordance with economic crime amnesty passed in July 2013, according to a news release of business ombudsman's office obtained by RAPSI.

In late October, business rights ombudsman Boris Titov said that 1,284 people have already been released. On July 2, a bill proposing an economic crime amnesty was approved by the State Duma, and will be carried out 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.