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Wednesday, 29 October 2003
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AGREES THAT GUNMEN SHOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR PAROLE
By empty (10/29/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The pro-presidential parliamentary majority has acceded to a request by opposition deputies to debate an amendment to the new Criminal Code that would preclude the eventual granting of parole to the five parliament gunmen, for whom a prosecutor on 24 October demanded life imprisonment, if they are convicted, RFE/RL\'s Yerevan bureau reported on 28 October. Despite opposition objections, parliament voted last month to abolish the death penalty unconditionally, replacing it with life imprisonment. The new Criminal Code provides for parole for people who have served more than 20 years of a life sentence.
The pro-presidential parliamentary majority has acceded to a request by opposition deputies to debate an amendment to the new Criminal Code that would preclude the eventual granting of parole to the five parliament gunmen, for whom a prosecutor on 24 October demanded life imprisonment, if they are convicted, RFE/RL\'s Yerevan bureau reported on 28 October. Despite opposition objections, parliament voted last month to abolish the death penalty unconditionally, replacing it with life imprisonment. The new Criminal Code provides for parole for people who have served more than 20 years of a life sentence. The opposition argues that those convicted of the parliament shootings should never be released from prison. (RFE/RL)