THE PUBLIC COUNCIL DECIDES TO APPLY TO PRESIDENT SARGSYAN
Hasmik Dilanyan
"Radiolur"
10.06.2009 17:10
The issue of amnesty remains in the focus of public attention. On May
28 President Serzh Sargsyan called on political forces and the Public
Council to come forth with proposals regarding the amnesty. The Public
Council held a plenary session yesterday and decided to apply to the
President, Chairman of the Civil Society Commission of the Public
Council Hovhannes Hovhannisyan told reporters today.
The Public Council has already been formed, and the Commissions have
been established. Yesterday the Council held its first plenary sitting,
at which all 36 members were present. Amnesty was one of the pivotal
issues on the agenda. Opinions varied, but the majority agreed that
declaring general pardon was a necessity.
Members of the Council were concerned that the number of criminals
could increase after the amnesty. However, very few people committed
crimes after the previous amnesty of 2006, Hovhanness Hovhannisyan
said.
Chairman of the Civil Society Commission considers that the amnesty
should apply to those arrested after the events of March 1 and 2,
2008. "I think that the amnesty could be a step that would help
alleviate the atmosphere of mistrust and isolation established after
March 1," he noted.
The Public Council considers that the pardon should not apply to
those arrested for elect ion violations, those who committed cries
after the previous amnesty and people who committed very grave crimes.