Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On the eve of the 34th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree pardoning a group of convicts who had sincerely repented and demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation.

The act of clemency does not negate the crimes committed but offers a chance to those who admitted their guilt and took steps toward reform.

A total of 523 individuals were pardoned under the decree. Of these, 195 were fully released, 147 were granted early conditional release, 87 had their sentences commuted to lighter penalties, and 94 had their prison terms reduced.

Among those pardoned are 45 women, 31 people over the age of 60, and 220 individuals under 30, including one minor. The decree also covered eight foreign nationals, six of them from Tajikistan and one from Sierra Leone. In addition, 15 of those released had previously been involved in the activities of banned organizations.

To implement the decree, the Prosecutor General’s Office and relevant agencies organized the return of those released to their places of residence and arranged for the deportation of foreign nationals to their home countries.

All pardoned individuals have been placed under preventive and probationary supervision. They are being provided with one-time financial assistance, in-depth medical examinations and treatment if necessary, help with employment, access to loans and subsidies, and support in obtaining civil documents and pensions.