Armenian driver Hrachya Harutyunyan, who was convicted of causing a major traffic accident in Russia that killed 18 people, will soon be extradited to Armenia to serve his punishment in the homeland, Russian Justice Ministry informed Sputink-Armenia.

“The judgment of Rasskazovski district court of Tambovsk Oblast on the extradition of convicted H.O. Harutyunyan from Russia to Armenia entered into force on July 4, 2017. The Armenian side has been informed about the aforementioned,” the statement reads.

After the copy of the decision is received by the Russian Justice Ministry, it will be directed to the Armenian colleagues.

The ministry clarified that pursuant to Article 391 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Russia, the judgment of the first instance court enters into force after the expiration of the term for its appeal.

Hrachya Harutyunyan had pleaded guilty to causing a major traffic accident in Russia. The truck he was driving had crashed into a passenger bus in July 2013, killing 18 and injuring 40 people. He was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.