PERSONS CONVICTED ON 2008 MARCH 1 CASES TO IMPRISONMENT OF UP TO 5 YEARS TO BE SUBJECT TO AMNESTY

Noyan Tapan
June 17, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The ideology of decisions on amnesty
made earlier is the basis of RA President’s proposal on granting an
amnesty to be discussed at the RA National Assembly June 19 special
session. It is a new thing that persons committing a crime during
the 2008 March 1-2 events in Yerevan are classed as an individual
category. However, as Chairman of RA NA Committee on State and
Legal Issues, RPA member David Haroutiunian told journalists after
Committee’s June 17 closed sitting, persons convicted to imprisonment
of up to 5 years will be subject to amnesty.

As to the issue of whether the amnesty will extend to the NA deputies
accused by the March 1 cases, it was mentioned that until the judicial
acts are pronounced no one can unequivocally say whether the amnesty
will extend to them or not. Meanwhile D. Haroutiunian stated that
as regards one of the deputies, Sasun Mikayelian, no amnesty can
be granted to him, as he is also accused by part 2, Article 235,
RA Criminal Code, purchasing, selling, keeping, transporting or
carrying illegal arms, ammunition, explosives by a group of people
by a preliminary agreement.

D. Haroutiunian also said that amnesty’s proposal mentions a
number of articles, some conditions, under which amnesty is not
used. In particular, no amnesty is granted if several crimes have
been committed, one of which excludes granting amnesty. It was
mentioned that acts subject to amnesty are determined not only by
punishment terms envisaged for them, but also by society’s estimation
to act’s gravity. In particular, such acts as mass disorders, for
which a comparatively strict punishment is envisaged, according
to D. Haroutiunian, will be subject to amnesty, while hindering
journalists’ professional activity envisaging minimum punishments
will not be subject to amnesty.

As to granting an amnesty to people being in search, in particular,
in connection with amnesty’s possible extension to deputy Khachatur
Sukiasian, D. Haroutiunian said that the condition of decisions on
amnesty made earlier has been kept in this case, as well: people being
in search should present themselves to law enforcement structures
in certain period and if the case is examined at the court, they
should present themselves to the court, after which, depending on the
charge, the amnesty act will either extend to them or not. The amnesty
unequivocally will not extend to those not presenting themselves in
the set term.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress