Armenia's parliament unanimously adopted the Pashinyan government's bill on amnesty in the first reading today.
The republic's acting Justice Minister Artak Zeynalyan said the amnesty to be declared in Armenia will apply to 6500 citizens.
Speaking during the special session of the parliament on Wednesday, Zeynalyan said there are 2888 people in penitentiary institutions of Armenia, and the facilities are designed for 4346 people.
"Amnesty is not intended to make penitentiary institutions less crowded, but is an extremely humane act designed to establish an atmosphere of tolerance and reconciliation," News.am cited the acting minister as saying.
Amnesty, however, will not be applied to those sentenced to life imprisonment.
