337 PRISONERS AMNESTIED IN ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 28, 2006

YEREVAN, August 28. /ARKA/. 337 prisoners have been amnestied in
Armenia on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the country’s
independence. Fifty prisoners’ terms have been reduced.

Press Secretary of the RA Ministry of Justice Anahit Voskanyan reported
that the amnesty applies to the people that committed crimes before
June 1, 2006.

She also said that the information on the amnestied prisoners is as
of August 18, 2006.

"However, the number of amnestied prisoners will not rise, because
the amnestied groups are clearly determined. The process will last
until September 30,"she said.

On July 7, 2006, the RA Parliament made a unanimous decision announcing
amnesty.

Most of the prisoners included in the amnesty are persons sentenced
to three years, persons subjected to punishment not involving
imprisonment, as well as persons subjected to conditional punishment.

In certain cases, people sentenced to 5-10 years will be amnestied
as well.

The perpetrators of serious and grave crimes will not be amnestied.

The last amnesty was announced in Armenia in 2001, on the occasion
of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia.