10 September 2009, 22:00
Over thousand set free by amnesty in Armenia
Under the amnesty act, passed this June under the initiative of President Serzh Sargsyan, the authorities of Armenia have released 1208 persons from custody in the country's criminal-corrective establishments. This was reported by Alina Engoyan, press secretary of the Cassation Court of Armenia.
The "Caucasian Knot" has already reported that on June 19 the National Assembly of Armenia passed the law "On Amnesty", according to which the inmates older than 60, those who had committed their offences under the age of 18, and children or parents of those who had battled heroically at the Karabakh War were subject to release from imprisonment. The amnesty also covered the overwhelming majority of those who committed their crimes during the events on March 1 and 2, 2008, in Yerevan.
The "Gazeta.Ru" reports that in total the amnesty covers about 2000 persons, who committed their crimes before June 1, 2009. The whole procedure will be over by September 30, 2009,
Out of the imprisoned well-known supporters of radical opposition, only MP Sasun Mikaelyan, sentenced to eight years of imprisonment, was not included into the amnesty list.
