Offenders in Armenia to escape punishment on condition of repentance

YEREVAN, July 12. /ARKA/. The Armenian parliament approved today a government-designed bill that expands the scope of legal regulation of issues related to the exemption from criminal liability on condition of active repentance.

Article 81 of Armenia's Criminal Code provides for exemption from criminal liability in case of active repentance. A citizen can use this opportunity if he/she has committed a crime for the first time, it is not grave or of medium gravity, and if the person cooperates with the law-enforcement authorities, does not challenge the crime incriminated to him/her. This possibility also applies if the citizen has compensated for the damage caused.

In the case of active repentance, cooperation with the criminal prosecution authorities, confession of guilt, and compensation for the damage caused are important.  

According to the government's conclusion, with the current workload of the criminal authorities, such legal regulation is very important, as it relieves the workload of both the preliminary investigation bodies and the courts.

The bill also determines the cases when a citizen cannot escape punishment and criminal liability even in case of active repentance. This applies, in particular, to crimes against peace and security of mankind, trafficking or exploitation of people, causing physical pain or mental suffering under aggravating circumstances, terrorism, abuse of official powers, abuse of powers with violence or threat of violence, usurpation of power, overthrow of the constitutional order, torture, as well as all those crimes for which life imprisonment is provided.

This legal regulation is not applicable if the victim is a person under 14 years of age or if the person is fully or partially unable to realize the nature and consequences of the crime committed against him/her due to mental health problems or mental retardation. -0-