The trial over the application for early release of life-sentenced convict Ashot Manukyan (the convict has been serving his punishment since 1996) was postponed today since Ashot Manukyan was not present in court. The judge listened to the representatives of both sides, but decided to postpone the trial until December 19 since Ashot Manukyan was absent.

The convict was jailed after being accused and convicted of the murder of three servicemen in 1996. Manukyan has written a booklet entitled “Crime, Tragedy, Sufferings…”, which is devoted to the events took place in 1996 and how he was sentenced to life in prison and how he regrets doing what he did, urging young people not to make the same mistake.

The Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice had given a negative conclusion and the Probation Service had given a positive conclusion regarding Manukyan’s early release. In such conditions, Armavir Penitentiary Institution, which is where the convict is kept, motioned the court to render a decision on early release.