Parliament adopts President-proposed amnesty bill

PanARMENIAN.Net - The National Assembly adopted an amnesty bill proposed by President Serzh Sargnyan on the occasion of Armenia’s 22nd independence anniversary.

As the Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan told journalists, the bill will cover 1200-1300 prisoners, with amnesty to last through December 25.

According to Tovmasyan, the amnesty will by 1/3 cover those imprisoned for the following crimes: theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation and theft through the use of computers, car theft, etc. 1/4 of the bill will cover kidnapping, unlawful confinement, robbery, burglary, trafficking in radioactive substances.

For those who’ve committed grave crimes, the imprisonment term will be reduced by 6 months.

As he Minister added, to be also amnestied are disabled persons, parents of children aged under 3 years, those who’ve committed crimes under the age of 16, WWII or Karabakh war veterans, those whose parents or children were killed in action.

According to the official, the amnesty won’t include those sentenced for rape, sex with minor, terrorism, financing of terrorism, espionage, murder of political or state figures, instigation of war, genocide, etc.

The first amnesty in Armenia was declared on June 5, 1995 on the occasion of the adoption of Armenian Constitution.