Vietnam announced on Friday that it will release nearly 14,000 prisoners, including dozens of foreigners, in the country’s largest-ever amnesty ahead of its National Day celebrations.
From Monday, authorities will grant amnesty to 13,915 prisoners, officials said at a press conference. The list includes 66 foreign nationals from 18 countries, among them citizens of China, South Korea, the United States, and Australia.
Le Van Tuyen, deputy minister of public security, described the release as “the biggest ever” in the country’s history.
The communist state traditionally grants amnesty before significant anniversaries. Earlier this year, more than 8,000 prisoners were freed in April to mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.
Under Vietnamese law, detainees convicted of crimes such as “attempting to overthrow the government” or “terrorism” are not eligible for amnesty. Human rights activists and political prisoners are also excluded.
Since 2009, Vietnam has granted early release to around 100,000 prisoners, though none of them have been political activists.
Currently, more than 190,000 inmates are serving jail terms across the country, according to the public security ministry.
The release coincides with Vietnam’s 80th anniversary of independence from French colonial rule, which will be celebrated on Tuesday with a major parade in the capital, Hanoi.
