Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted an amnesty draft bill to the federal parliament that could affect around 260,000 convicts, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

According to the Moscow Times, out of the 260,000 convicts, 60,000 are prisoners serving sentences at various jails in the country, while 200,000 others are convicts too, but not in prison yet because of probation or commuted sentences or other reasons.

Those convicted of major crimes, however, would not be able to take advantage of the amnesty law.

The Kremlin's Press Office said that the federal Russian parliament had been urged to release thousands of prisoners to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany.

Putin, who gave a speech at the Kremlin Palace, said in the statement: "In exactly one month, we will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We will honor our veterans, pay our respects to all those who died defending this country's freedom and independence."

He said it was the duty of every Russian citizen to remember the lessons of that war. "The people of Russia experienced extreme hardships as they fought Nazism. Therefore, we considerate it unacceptable to encourage neo-Nazism, extremism, stirring up of inter-ethnic strife and escalation of military threats," he said.