Convicts in "Nubarashen" prison of Armenia went on a hunger strike

Convicts in "Nubarashen" prison of Yerevan went on a hunger strike. The protestors sentenced to life imprisonment for murders demand reconsideration of their criminal cases.

The data on the number of protestor differs.

Two persons are taking part in the hunger strike, IA "Novosti-Armenia" referring to Press service of Penal Execution Department of the Ministry of Justice reports.

Since January, 25, twenty life-term prisoners declared an open-ended hunger strike, "Lragir" informs.

The protestors demand reconsideration of their sentencing decisions based on the amendments to the Criminal Code of Armenia enacted in March, 2011, according to which maximum penalty in form of life imprisonment was in some cases substituted by a custody term of 15 and 20 years.

After adoption of the law 97 out of 104 life-term prisoners appealed to courts for reconsideration of their sentencing decisions considering that the above mentioned amendment might have retroactive effect upon the sentence of life imprisonment. However, none of the courts revoked the sanction.

Earlier, the prisoners informed President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan about their intention to go on a hunger strike in a letter they sent to him, 1in.am. reports.

See earlier reports: "Armenian prisons are overcrowded," "Political prisoner Musheg Sagatelyan released in Armenia," "Convicts of Nubarashen penitentiary institution ended hunger-strike after they had met parliamentarians."