As of 21st of September, 2011, 590 convicts have been realesed from penitentiaries of RA Ministry of Justice and the punishment of 424 convicts was reduced: informs the public relations department of the Police Department.

The process of granting amnesty or reducing the punishment on the occasion of 20^th anniversary of declaration of the Republic of Armenia started in the Penitentiary Service of the RA Ministry of Justice from May 27 and lasted until September 21.

The number of the convicts released by amnesty and the number of convicts with reduced sentences are presented below by penitentiaries:

"Nubarashen" penitentiary -67 released, 11 reduced sentences

"Erebuni" penitentiary -125 released, 86 reduced sentences

"Vardashen" penitentiary -35 released, 26 reduced sentences

"Hospital of Convicts" penitentiary -31 released, 13 reduced sentences

"Yerevan Center" penitentiary - 0 (there are no convicts subject to release)

"Artik" penitentiary -49 released, 46 reduced sentences

"Vanadzor" penitentiary -20 released, 18 reduced sentences

"Sevan" penitentiary -84 released, 82 reduced sentences

"Hrazdan" penitentiary -32 released, 13 reduced sentences

"Abovyan" penitentiary -8 released, 20 reduced sentences

"Goris" penitentiary -19 released, 11 reduced sentences

"Kosh" penitentiary -120 released, 98 reduced sentences

As of September 21^st, the courts and the prosecution released those convicts registered at the department of alternative punishment of Police Department of Ministry of Justice, who are applicable for the decision of "Announcing amnesty on the occasion of 20^th anniversary of declaration of Republic of Armenia".

Courts- 799 convicts

Prosecution - 439 convicts

Total - 1238 convicts

According to the public relations' office of the Police Department of Ministry of Justice at the department of alternative punishment, the sentence was reduced for those convicts, who  are applicable for the 4^th and 5^th sub-points of the 8^th point of the decision of "Announcing amnesty on the occasion of 20^th anniversary of declaration of Republic of Armenia".

Courts - 93 convicts

Prosecution - 17 convicts

Total-109 convicts.

As a reminder, RA president Serj Sarksyan's suggestion about granting amnesty on the occasion of 20^th anniversary of declaration of Republic of Armenia was approved by the National Assembly on 26^th of May, 2011.

Source: www.hra.am