MOSCOW, February 18 (RAPSI) - Russian business ombudsman Boris Titov told the press on Tuesday that he will suggest the State Duma to extend the economic crime amnesty for six months.

According to the business ombudsman's office, more than 2,300 convicts have been already released in Russia in accordance with the amnesty.

In late October, Titov said that 1,284 people have already been released. On July 2, a bill proposing an economic crime amnesty was approved by the State Duma, and had to be carried out over the next six months.

The resolution releases from criminal liability, regardless of the designated prison term, individuals convicted or held liable under 27 articles of the Criminal Code related to business activities. For the amnesty to take effect, a suspect or a convict has to return the property or compensate the damages to the complainants.

The amnesty applies not only to individuals serving prison terms but also persons who received non-custodial or suspended sentences or were convicted on parole.  Earlier, Presidential Plenipotentiary at the State Duma of the Russian Federation Garry Minkh said that approximately 3,000 convicts must be amnestied.