YEREVAN. – The first prisoners to be released under amnesty can be set free on Tuesday, advisor to Justice Minister Nikolay Arustamyan said.

Around 500-600 will be released under the amnesty, sentence of another 900-1,000 prisoners will be commuted.

Arustamyan recalled that this is the ninth amnesty in the history of independent Armenia. Criminals charged with crimes against humanity, sexual assaults and illicit drug trafficking will not fall under the amnesty.

As reported earlier, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan submitted, for National Assembly discussions, the proposal to declare amnesty in Armenia on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of independence. The proposal was approved unanimously.