death_penalty_new.qxd 02-08-27 12:57 Page 20 THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE OSCE AREA to abolish the death penalty for crimes committed in peacetime and to ratify Protocol No.6 to the ECHR within a year. As of 30 June 2002, it had not completed either of these undertakings. According to official information, the ratification of Protocol No. 6 to the ECHR has been postponed until the next session of the National Assembly, which will be held in the autumn of 2002. A new Criminal Code is before the National Assembly40. Under the new Criminal Code the death penalty will be largely substituted by life imprisonment. However, the death penalty will be retained for three crimes41. These are murder in aggravating circumstances, terrorist acts and the rape of female infants42. These crimes will only carry the death penalty if committed before the new Criminal Code comes into force. This would enable the five men who are on trial for murdering eight senior officials in the Armenian Parliament in 1999 to be sentenced to death43. Moratorium: A de facto moratorium has been in place since 1990. Whilst Armenian courts continue to sentence people to the death penalty, the President exercises as a matter of course his constitutional authority to issue pardon44. Method of execution: Shooting45. STATISTICS Number of death sentences passed: According to official statistics46, two persons were sentenced to death in 200047 and two persons were sentenced to death in 200148. As of 30 June 2002, one person was sentenced to death49. 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 In 2002 the National Assembly passed the General Provisions of the Code (General principles of criminal law). On 20 June 2002 the National Assembly also considered the Specific Provisions of the Code (Provisions defining criminal offences of the new criminal code). Article 398 of the new Criminal Code. Armenian Parliament votes to retain death penalty for parliament gunmen, Radio for Europe/Radio Liberty, 20 June 2002. This information was confirmed by the OSCE Office in Yerevan. Armenian Parliament votes to retain death penalty for parliament gunmen, Radio for Europe/Radio Liberty, 20 June 2002. Article 55(17) of the Constitution. Article 22 of the current Criminal Code. Official statistics provided by the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE. Ter-Sahakian was convicted under Articles 72 and 99 the current Criminal Code. Alik Grigorian was convicted under Articles 72 and 99 of the current Criminal Code. Albert Hageyan was convicted under Article 99 of the current Criminal Code. Arman Iskandarian was convicted under Article 99 of the current Criminal Code. Hovsep Hovsepian was convicted under Article 99 of the current Criminal Code. 20