22 May 2009, 23:40
Speaker of Armenian Parliament confirms amnesty of oppositionists
On May 28, the Day of First Republic, President of Armenia will make a statement on announcing amnesty to those who were sentenced under the case on events in March 1, 2008, in Yerevan. This was stated to journalists by Ovik Abramyan, Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia, in his answer to the question about any possible amnesty to opposition's activists.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that under decree of President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan activists David Agayan and Nver Stepanyan, figurants in the case about March 1, 2008, events, were released. In December 2008, they submitted a pardon petition to the President.
In mid-January, by pardon decree of Serzh Sargsyan, 16 persons were also released, figurants in the case on the events on March 1, 2008. Then, the oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) stated, however, that only two out of 16 pardoned persons were political prisoners, and the rest 14 had nothing to do with "illegal bearing, purchase, application, transportation and sale of firearms and ammunition", as stated by President's Decree.
Last December, President pardoned by his decree five oppositional activists, figurants in the case about events on March 1: Karen Tarkhanyan, Avetik Gredzyan, Edward Ashugyan, Arman Margaryan and Arthur Nazanyan. All the five were on the ANC list and regarded as political prisoners.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan Source: CK correspondent
