Milograd Granted Parole
by Kris Montresor

Recently the Assembly had passed an amendment to the Code of Laws that established a Parole Board, with the power to grant parole to those sentenced to permanent banishment from the South Pacific, a controversial amendment criticized by some who believed people has been permanently banned for a reason, and that this would weaken the administration of justice in the region.

Today the new Parole Board announced that it had granted parole to Milograd, explaining that he is no longer a security threat and that his performance as Chairman of Lazarus have shown a willingness to be a positive contributor to NationStates. Milograd served as Delegate of the South Pacific until April 2013, when he overthrew the Coalition and attempted to establish a communist regime called the South Pacific Socialist Republic. He has defeated after ten days and was convicted for treason.

Now that he has been granted parole, Milograd's ban has been lifted and he is allowed to have nations in the region and a forum account. However, he is still barred from applying for citizenship and seeking public office in the South Pacific.

This decision has been met with fierce opposition, mainly from citizens who were active during the April 2013 Coup. HEM, who served as Chief Justice during the trial, said that Milograd "is a totally disingenuous individual [who] is willing to put on any deception to advance his ends". In defence of granting the parole, Unibot has argued that "given his pattern of behavior since the coup has changed [the Parole Board] found that he did meet the criteria set out in the law".