Turkmen president issues prisoner amnesty
ASHGABAT – Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has issued a prisoner amnesty to coincide with a major holiday, Radio Liberty reported.
It was unclear how many of those jailed in Turkmen prisons would be released as a result of the presidential decree.
The pardon comes as Turkmenistan marks a national holiday -- the Day of Revival, Unity, and Poetry of Magtymguly Pyragy.
Born in 1770, Pyragy is considered the father of Turkmen literature.
To mark today's holiday, flowers are expected to be laid at the monument of Pyragy in Ashgabat.