Decision 266 on amnesty in 2025 of the President continues to affirm the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam in promoting and protecting human rights in a fair and equal manner for all citizens, including those serving prison sentences.
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| Press conference to announce Decision 266 on amnesty in 2025 of the President. (Source: VGP) |
On the morning of March 4, the Office of the President coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Supreme People's Court to hold a press conference to announce Decision 266 on amnesty in 2025 of the President.
The press conference was co-chaired by Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pham Thanh Ha, Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Public Security, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, and Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Tri Tue.
Enjoy the joy of being forgiven
According to Decision 266 issued on March 3, the amnesty and early release of prisoners sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment or life imprisonment will be carried out on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 2025). The time served in prison for consideration of amnesty is calculated up to April 30, 2025.
Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pham Thanh Ha said that since 2009, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has carried out 10 amnesties on important events and national holidays, granting amnesty to nearly 100,000 prisoners who have done well in their rehabilitation, work and study and returned to the community and society. The results of the amnesties have ensured political, legal and foreign affairs requirements, which have been approved by the people in the country and highly appreciated by international public opinion; continuing to affirm the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam in promoting and protecting human rights in a fair and equal manner for all citizens, including those serving prison sentences.
Through the President’s amnesty decisions, tens of thousands of people have enjoyed the joy of clemency, returned to reunite with their families, and are ready to rebuild their lives. Most of the amnestied people have returned to their places of residence, stabilized their lives, and made honest livings. The rate of amnestied people reoffending is very low.
"That is the greatest humane mark of the amnesty policy, clearly reflecting the priority of ensuring and promoting human rights in all policies of the Party and State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pham Thanh Ha emphasized.
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| Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pham Thanh Ha speaks at the press conference. (Source: VGP) |
What's new
Answering questions related to the number of special amnesties in 2025, Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said that amnesty is a special leniency policy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, decided by the President. The decision to have 1 or 2 amnesties is decided by the President. In the immediate future, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 2025), the President issued Decision No. 266/2025/QD-CTN on amnesty in 2025.
As of January 31, 2025, there were 197,158 prisoners serving their sentences in prisons and temporary detention centers of police units and localities. Based on the conditions in the President's Decision, the Central Amnesty Council assigned the relevant agencies to conduct a review. Those cases that meet the prescribed conditions will be reported to Amnesty Councils at all levels for consideration and decision on specific figures.
Regarding the new points in the 2025 Amnesty Decision, Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen clearly stated the changes in the time of serving prison sentences. Accordingly, people serving fixed-term prison sentences, people sentenced to life imprisonment that have been reduced to fixed-term imprisonment who are proposed for amnesty must meet the following conditions: having served at least one-third of the prison sentence in the case of fixed-term imprisonment (in 2024, it is stipulated as one-half of the time), having served a sentence of at least 14 years in the case of life imprisonment that has been reduced to fixed-term imprisonment (in 2024, it is stipulated as having served a sentence of at least 15 years).
Decision 266 clearly states that people sentenced to a fixed-term prison sentence who have served at least a quarter of the time (in 2024, it will be one-third of the time) and people sentenced to life imprisonment that has been reduced to a fixed-term prison sentence who have served at least 12 years (in 2024, it will be at least 13 years)... are also proposed for amnesty when: They have made great contributions during the time of serving their prison sentence; people with revolutionary contributions; people who are suffering from serious illnesses or are frequently ill; people aged 70 or older; people with especially difficult family circumstances and who are the sole breadwinner in their family...
"The expansion of the policy for those granted amnesty this year demonstrates the State's leniency policy, and at the same time recognizes the results in the reform and education of prisoners by the People's Public Security Force. Based on the results of previous amnesties, those granted amnesty have complied very well with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws, and the recidivism rate is very low. This is also one of the priorities for this year's policy expansion," said the Deputy Minister of Public Security.
Regarding the conditions for amnesty for foreign prisoners, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet affirmed that the conditions for amnesty consideration for Vietnamese prisoners and foreign prisoners are the same.
"The basic principle of the process of considering and deciding on amnesty is that there is no discrimination between Vietnamese prisoners and foreign prisoners," said Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet.
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| Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Public Security, answers reporters' questions. (Source: VGP) |
Conditions for amnesty
A person serving a fixed-term prison sentence or a person sentenced to life imprisonment that has been reduced to a fixed-term prison sentence and is proposed for amnesty must meet the following conditions:
Firstly , there is much progress, good awareness of reform and is classified as serving the prison sentence fairly or well according to the provisions of the law on criminal execution.
Second , having served at least one-third of the prison sentence in the case of a fixed-term prison sentence; if the prison sentence has been previously reduced, the reduced term shall not be counted towards the time served in prison.
Third, having served a prison sentence of at least 14 years in the case of a life sentence that has been reduced to a fixed-term prison sentence, if after being reduced to a fixed-term prison sentence, the prison sentence is further reduced, the subsequent reduced term will not be counted towards the time served in prison.
Fourth , a person convicted of the crime of sabotaging the implementation of socio-economic policies; the crime of sabotaging solidarity policies; the crime of organizing, forcing, or inciting others to flee abroad or stay abroad to oppose the people's government; the crime of fleeing abroad or staying abroad to oppose the people's government.
Fifth, having served a prison sentence of at least 17 years in the case of a life sentence that has been reduced to a fixed-term prison sentence, if after being reduced to a fixed-term prison sentence, the prison sentence is further reduced, the subsequent reduced term will not be counted towards the time served in prison.
Sixth , has completed the additional penalty of fine and paid court fees.
Seventh , has completed the obligation to return property, compensate for damages, and other civil obligations for people sentenced to prison for corruption crimes...
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dau-an-nhan-van-qua-quyet-dinh-ve-dac-xa-nam-2025-cua-chu-pich-nuoc-306323.html
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