[Lauchenoiria]

Kerlian News Service

International Edition

Amnesty for foreign prisoners convicted of non-violent crimes declared
4th November 2019

President Arnott this morning declared an amnesty for all prisoners who are not Kerlian nationals convicted of non-violent crimes. All foreign prisoners included are set to be released immediately and returned to their countries of origin. President Arnott has stated that this move is aimed at reducing the number of non-violent offenders in prison facilities, and improving Kerlile’s relationship with various countries.

Among those being released are: 4 Kvaskm, 10 Xiomerans, 10 Shen, 11 Eirians, 11 Zamastanians, 14 Laeralites, 17 Maximusians and 64 Lauchenoirians. The governments of these nations will be informed in advance of the release of their citizens. Each released prisoner will have 14 days to leave the Matriarchy, or will face detention and deportation. They are set to be released this afternoon.

Councillor Jennifer Hale praised the decision by President Arnott, saying: “many of these people were tourists who came to Kerlile expecting a holiday, and have spent years languishing in our prisons over minor crimes. It is a tragedy that it has taken us this long to correct this horrible mistake, which has caused so many diplomatic incidents and such deterioration in our relationship with other nations.”

Among those being released are three Lauchenoirian students, convicted in 2010 of spreading patriarchal propaganda while on vacation in Kerlile. The three were sentenced to 20 years in prison, and became an example in the Lauchenoirian media of the “dangers” of visiting Kerlile. They have recently gained further attention in the Lauchenoirian media after being used by far-right misogynist party Lauchenoiria First as anti-Kerlian propaganda.

The released prisoners will be advised to contact their embassy in Kerlile (aside from those from Kvask, which does not have an embassy in Kerlile), and offered transportation to the vicinity. Kerlile is to urge the governments in question to arrange transportation for their citizens as quickly as possible. This amnesty will not entitle any of the released prisoners to any kind of compensation, financial or otherwise.