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🇨🇱 Chile /Crime & Justice

Krassnoff writes from prison: “I do not need pardons, mercy, favors or special laws”

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Retired Chilean Army brigadier Miguel Krassnoff responded in a letter after Senator Iván Flores cited his case in opposing possible pardons for human rights violators.
  • Krassnoff, sentenced to more than 1,000 years in prison, argued that the crimes against humanity designation cannot apply retroactively to offenses dating from 1974 to 1976.
  • He said he sought freedom under existing laws rather than pardons, mercy, favors or special legislation.

From prison, retired Army brigadier Miguel Krassnoff says he does not need “pardons, mercy, favors or special laws.” He made the statement in a letter responding to Chilean Senator Iván Flores, who had used Krassnoff as an example while rejecting possible pardons for people convicted of human rights violations.

I do not need pardons, mercy, favors or special laws.

· Miguel KrassnoffIn a prison letter responding to Senator Iván Flores and discussing possible pardons for prisoners convicted of human rights violations.

The letter, published through the X account Punta Peuco Hoy, argues that the “overused concept of crimes against humanity” cannot apply to Krassnoff or his imprisoned former comrades. Krassnoff wrote that Chile classified the offense in 2009 and that the law could not operate retroactively.

He said the cases for which they were convicted date from 1974 to 1976, including his own case, with some others covering subsequent years. Krassnoff has received prison sentences totaling more than 1,000 years.

The overused concept of crimes against humanity does not apply to any of us, because it was classified in Chile in 2009, with its non-retroactivity also established.

· Miguel KrassnoffKrassnoff’s argument that the legal designation cannot apply to cases dating from 1974 to 1976.

“Like my imprisoned comrades, I do not need pardons, mercy, favors or special laws to gain my freedom,” he wrote. “I only aspire to have the laws in force applied.”

Like my imprisoned comrades, I do not need pardons, mercy, favors or special laws to gain my freedom. I only aspire to have the laws in force applied.

· Miguel KrassnoffHis stated position on how he believes his freedom should be obtained.
About this summary

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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