Amnesty to refer to Pashinyan and Mikayelyan too
Today Justice Minister Hrair Tovmasyan clarified whether the amnesty would refer to political prisoners Sasun Mikayelyan and Nikol Pashinyan.
"This amnesty will refer to them. There is no need to contemplate the issue. Even a second-year law student will tell you what it means," the minister said after the NA adopted the law "On Amnesty" with 91 for and 1 neutral.
Touching upon the articles in presses, the minister told journalists that some of those articles were the result of ignorance.
"The essence is that amnesty doesn't refer to those whom amnesty has been referred in the past 10 years or those who have committed an intentional crime in the past 10 years. It was clearly stated."
The minister also informed that the amnesty would go into effect the day after it is declared. "It should be declared within 24 hours. I think we will be able to declare it today or tomorrow."
The minister stressed once again that the entire process of amnesty will continue until September 21. "It will continue until Armenia's Independence Day. It is in this period when penitentiaries, preliminary inquiry agencies and the courts will examine the cases and decide whether amnesty will be applied to the given persons or not."
Hrair Tovmasyan said he would rule out any corruption risks during the process.
"I will do everything possible for the quick release of those who are in prison and whose cases are still being investigated. I will do everything possible to make sure those people are released as soon as possible."
