Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has signed a new amnesty decree.
Turkmenistan's state-run media reported on December 11 that the presidential order was issued to mark Turkmenistan's Day of Neutrality, which is celebrated on December 12.
It is not clear how many inmates will be freed or who will be eligible for release.
The amnesty was granted less than two months after Berdymukhammedov announced another amnesty for 2,000 prisoners to honor the 21st anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence in October.
Before Berdymukhammedov's presidency, his predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, issued amnesty decrees once a year, in the holy month of Ramadan.
Berdymukhammedov issues such decrees several times a year, usually ahead of state holidays.
There are no official statistics on the number of inmates currently held in Turkmenistan's prisons.
Turkmenistan's state-run media reported on December 11 that the presidential order was issued to mark Turkmenistan's Day of Neutrality, which is celebrated on December 12.
It is not clear how many inmates will be freed or who will be eligible for release.
The amnesty was granted less than two months after Berdymukhammedov announced another amnesty for 2,000 prisoners to honor the 21st anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence in October.
Before Berdymukhammedov's presidency, his predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, issued amnesty decrees once a year, in the holy month of Ramadan.
Berdymukhammedov issues such decrees several times a year, usually ahead of state holidays.
There are no official statistics on the number of inmates currently held in Turkmenistan's prisons.
