"Everything is lumped together"
Which of the March 1 detainees will be pardoned? Armenia's Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan was unable to give a definite answer to the question.
Today the National Assembly convened a special sitting to consider Serzh Sargsysyan's proposal on amnesty which had been approved by the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs earlier. The proposal was introduced to Armenian parliamentarians by Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan.
With regard to the March 1-2 detainees the document reads: "To release all people charged with a deliberate crime and sentenced to five years' of prison who have served one third of the sentence term and all those sentenced to ten years of prison and serving half of the sentence."
Regarding wanted persons in connection to the March 1 deadly clashes, in particular Khachatur Sukiasyan and Nikol Pashinyan, the Minister of Justice said: 'All articles levying charges against the aforesaid people are liable to an amnesty as well. If they give themselves to law machinery by July 31 they will be pardoned."
The Minister underlined that amnesty will not cover MP Sasun Miakelyan. "Others will be pardoned but I cannot say fully or partially. Both Gagik Jhangiryan and Smbat Ayvazyan will be set free. The amnesty will cover people sentenced to three years of prison, persons on conditional discharge and persons with suspended imposition of sentence," said the Minister.
The amnesty will cover some 2000 convicts but only 500 will be released immediately.
Heritage Party MP Stepan Safaryan says everything is lumped together. He thinks that all political prisoners should be released immediately. He cited PACE resolutions noting that all prisoners should be freed, especially those taken under custody on the basis of evidence given by the police.
The project is being discussed in a near-empty hall.
