In Armenia, 29 life prisoners stop their hunger strike

As reported by the press service of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), on June 30, the 29 hunger-striking life prisoners stopped their protest after the call of the Minister.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 30, 29 prisoners serving their life sentences in the penitentiary institution "Nubarashen" went on hunger strike demanding revision of their cases and providing them with a chance for the CER (conditional early relief). According to their version, after the amendments to the Criminal Code (CC) of the Republic of Armenia (RA) (amendments to Article 35 of the CC of the RA, adopted by the National Assembly on May 24 suggesting leniency on certain crimes, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") life-sentenced prisoners found themselves disadvantaged as compared with those covered by the amendments, who can now get at large.

The edition named "Aysor.am" writes that Ovannes Manukyan, the Minister of Justice, made a statement after which the prisoners stopped their hunger strike.

"The MoJ is consistently monitoring the problems life convicts; in the short term these problems will be reviewed; and the society will be informed about further actions," the edition "EPress.am" quotes the Minister's statement.

Earlier, relatives of the life convicts said that none of them had pled guilty.