April 19, 2003 - 19:08 AMT
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT REPEALED IN ARMENIA
The National Assembly of Armenia has passed a new draft of the Criminal Code repealing capital punished. The new Code coming into effect August 1 current year substitutes life imprisonment for death penalty. Meanwhile, people sentenced to life imprisonment can count on conditional pre-term release in 20 years. In compliance with the new Criminal Code death sentences passed for a few tens of people for heinous crimes will be reviewed. Meanwhile, in the words of advisor of the chief of the Armenian Police Mikayel Grigorian, the provisions of the new Code do not apply to people, who have committed grave crimes (murders under aggravating conditions, acts of terrorism, minor rapes and other) before the present law coming into force.