YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)– 555 people were released on amnesty announced in Nagorno Karabakh (NKR) by the republic’s National Assembly on February 20 in connection with the 10th anniversary of the national-liberation movement of Karabakh.
Unlike the previous one–this amnesty embraced a wider category of prisoners–the head of the State Department of Justice–Robert Hayrapetian said. Another peculiarity of this amnesty is that the state showed humane attitude towards those who committed crimes while serving in the army–Hayrapetian said. Such measure gave the young soldiers an opportunity to rectify their mistakes–by doing their soldier’s duty. 92 people are currently continuing their service in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic defense army. The amnesty also embraces those who participated in military actions–defending Karabakh–invalids of the first and second groups and those awarded medals and orders.
The amnesty does not spread on prisoners who committed heavy crimes as well as those who concealed treason and premeditated murders with aggravating circumstances.
When asked whether the release of so many prisoners from places of confinement will reflect on the crime rate in Karabakh–Hayrapetian said that there is no serious risk of its becoming high–as this situation is under control–and a tendency towards decline in crime has been observed lately. "An act of amnesty embracing a wide category of prisoners is possible only in the conditions of internal political stability and strength of state power," Hayrapetian stressed.
