OREANDA-NEWS Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree pardoning 52 women in honor of International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8. The corresponding decree was published on the Kremlin's website.

"First of all, women with minor children, pregnant women, as well as women whose relatives participate in a special military operation have been pardoned," the decree says.

The statement emphasizes that the Russian leader was guided by the principle of humanity when making a decision.

In December, during a meeting with the President of Russia, a member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) Eva Merkacheva appealed to Putin with a request to pardon women who have committed nonviolent crimes, who have minor children, as well as women who have committed such crimes for the first time, in whose cases there are no victims or those are not against their release. She stressed that such a decision would help reunite families.