GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER VII
PENALTY

Article 50. Fixed-Term Imprisonment

1. Fixed-term imprisonment shall be imposed by a court in the cases provided for in the Special Part of this Code. The term of the penalty shall be counted in years, months and days.

2. The penalty of a fixed-term imprisonment may be imposed for a period from three months up to ten years. In the case of imposing the penalty according to Article 64 of this Code, when a new crime is committed before a sentence for the previous crime is served, a custodial sentence for a period of up to 25 years may be imposed.

3. Convicted persons shall serve a custodial sentence in open colonies, houses of correction and prisons. The place where the penalty is to be served shall be selected by a court taking into consideration the personality of the offender, the nature and dangerousness of the committed crime. The procedure for and conditions of serving the custodial sentence shall be laid down by the Penal Code.

Article 51. Life Imprisonment

1. The penalty of life imprisonment shall be imposed by a court in the cases provided for in the Special Part of this Code.

2. If a criminal law provides for a possibility of commutation of the penalty of life imprisonment, the custodial sentence may be commuted to a term of not less than 25 years.

3. Convicted persons shall serve the penalty of life imprisonment in a prison. Having served the first ten years of the sentence of life imprisonment, convicted persons may, in the cases and in accordance with the procedure laid down by laws, be transferred to a house of correction. The procedure for and conditions of serving the penalty of life imprisonment shall be laid down by the Penal Code.