ASTANA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan released some 1,200 prisoners under an amnesty to mark the 25th anniversary of the nation's independence, the Ministry of Internal affairs said on Wednesday.
"About 1,200 convicts were released from prisons, another 2,269 convicted shortened their terms of punishment as a result of amnesty," according to the press service of the ministry's committee for penitentiary system.
In addition, more than 6,700 people who serve a prison sentence without being isolated from society were released.
Also, about 40 foreign citizens, most from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), were released.
Currently, about 1,300 nationals of the CIS and other foreign countries serve a prison sentence in Kazakh prison cells.
The law on amnesty over the 25th independence anniversary was passed in December 2016.
