State Duma

The amnesty doesn’t cover, as it didn’t originally, foreign nationals, dangerous recidivists and those who committed crimes such as murder, abduction, rape, robbery and other serious crime. Those whose crimes fall under articles "Attempt on the life of a law enforcement agency official" and "Banditry", are not amnestied either.
In other words, anyone who took part in Chechen resistance may be deprived of the State Duma’s mercy, for by taking part in military action they made attempts on law enforcement agencies officials’ lives. It isn’t hard to put all the Chechen militants on the list of "bandits" as "bandits", as defined by the Criminal Code, are those who take part in an "organised armed group".
Although "taking part in unlawful armed formations" is amnestied, nobody can tell for sure which of the articles would be used in each separate case. Alexander Barannikov, MP from Union of Right Forces party, also suggested to amnesty "Banditry", but the amendment was not passed.
However, two other amendments were. Alexander Barannikov and MP for Chechnya Aslambek Aslakhanov suggested to exclude from the amnesty crimes of genocide. Duma found itself in an awkward position. To amnesty genocide would mean to admit that such crimes were committed. The amendment was passed. Theoretically, those who committed genocide could be called to account. On Barannikov’s initiative, the article on the theft of weapons, which was not in the President’s version, was also covered by the amnesty. Duma has slightly changed the term of the amnesty. It will be in effect during six months from the date of publication, but would only cover those members of the Chechen armed groups who hand in their arms before 1 September 2003. Earlier it was 1 August. On Kremlin’s request, the term was extended by a month.
It’s impossible to estimate how many people from both sides would be amnestied. Chief Military Prosecutor of Russia Alexander Savenkov stated that the Military Prosecutor’s Office currently has 50 cases of the servicemen who committed crimes in Chechnya; 200 more cases are still
being processed by the courts. But to-date it is unclear what the allegations are against them or who will be amnestied. As for the Chechen resistance, we shall see next week whether the bearded men with machine-guns are lining up in queues outside the commandant’s offices in Chechnya longing to exchange their weapons and freedom for the forgiveness promised by the Russian Parliament.