Editor-in-chief of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily Nikol Pashinyan to 7 years in prison. Judge Martirosyan's verdict was unprecedented. He demanded a stricter punishment than the prosecutors. Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan had demanded 2.5 year sentencing under Article 316 of the Penal Code and 6 years under Article 225.
The committee on defense of Armenia's political prisoners and persecuted issued a statement:
"2010 January 19 marked the end of yet another phony political trial. Political figure, Editor-in-chief of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily Nikol Pashinyan, whom the people have always known as a critic of the authorities, was acknowledged guilty and sentenced to long-term imprisonment by the verdict of an unjust court that overtly functions under the existing government.
Those who seized power by force in the wake of the 2008 falsified presidential elections have placed the issue of creating an environment of fear and horror through persecutions, assaults and sentencing of oppositionist political figures and forcing RA citizens to stop fighting for their rights.
We evaluate this nonsensical, unsubstantiated and completely unjust verdict against Nikol Pashinyan in the context of the past years, especially the past two years during which RA judges overlooked the law and rights, were guided by the instructions given by the political elite, accepted false, phony testimonies as grounds and announced verdicts that envisaged long-term imprisonment for political figures.
The committee on defense of Armenia's political prisoners and the persecuted condemns any expression of violence by the current RA authorities, be it sentencing or persecutions and calls on RA citizens not to break down, unite as one and lead the struggle for political and civil liberties to the end," as stated in the statement.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2010/01/21/statement
National Press Club condemns Pashinyan's verdict
The National Press Club (MAA) condemns a Yerevan court verdict sentencing Haykakan Zhamanak chief editor Nikol Pashinyan to seven years' imprisonment.
"Nikol Pashinyan has been sent to 7 years in prison for exercising his rights stipulated by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), i.e. as a journalist he has a right to voice his opinion, remain loyal to it and disseminate his beliefs.
We think the verdict aims at sowing fear among journalists towards their professional activities and deepening self-censorship", reads a MAA letter.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2010/01/20/press
The office of the Armenian National Congress's statement, after Pashinian's sentence was issued :
"Nikol Pashinyan's verdict that was announced on January 19 was the climax of the manifestation of the regime's felonious policy, as well as the scornfulness and cynicism toward the law, justice and its own people since the murders of March 1, 2008. During the enduring trial, the court was not able to find any piece of evidence that would corroborate any of the charges brought up against the political prisoner. On the contrary, the court presented numerous materials, facts and evidence that fully denied the charges. The period of sentencing demanded by the state prosecutor and the verdict reached by the court had nothing to do with each other. Both were the conclusion of a previously planned scenario that fell on the shoulders of the prosecutor and the judge in the form of an order. The latter apparently presented themselves as simple executors who fulfill the order like trained animals, and not as independent officials carrying out justice and limited to commitments envisaged by law and granted with necessary powers. Under the instruction of the regime and Serzh Sargsyan personally, the court ignored the demand stated in the PACE resolution according to which people who have not committed violence or made calls for violence can't be sentenced.
Indeed, this malicious self-confidence of the regime was based on the fact that until then, it had violated another proposition of the PACE resolutions which demanded that people who are under persecution, underground or have voluntarily presented themselves to the law-enforcement bodies should not be arrested.
The unlawful verdict is the regime's desperate attempt to free themselves from the responsibility for the massacres of March 1, the thousands of political persecutions and contraband electoral falsifications. It showed that not only is the regime not planning to step back from its course of deepening dictatorship, illegality and terrorist acts, but is leading the country toward inevitable destruction. That destruction is inevitable in any country where constitutional order is replaced by the power of hooligans, where laws and justice are violated and where the real culprits judge innocent people.
The Armenian National Congress views the regime's verdict against Nikol Pashinyan as an expression of fear and panic which the regime is trying to conceal with false self-confidence and steps that are illogical and unreasonable. These are convulsions of agony for the regime led by Serzh that has failed in foreign policy, labeled a traitor and turncoat and earned the hatred of the entire nation. The pan-Armenian movement will find a way to liberate Armenia from this regime, restore constitutional order and bring everyone, including the real culprits of this case, their supporters and stooges to justice," as stated in the statement.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2010/01/19/congress
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Arshak Banouchyan released under amnesty
On December 11, Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court returned a verdict of guilty against Arshak Banouchyan, assistant director of the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts and Executive Director of "Matenadaran's Friends" Charity Foundation.
Banouchyan who was charged with squandering and tax evasion was amnestied after being sentenced to three years in prison.
He was set free from the courtroom.
The Court also ruled that Banouchyan must pay 2,3 million drams in favour of the foundation.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/social/2009/12/11/arshak-banuchyan
Levon Zurabyan: Political prisoners are put up for sale
"Today Armenia has 15 political prisoners. Besides, the City Hall has sanctioned the opposition's march due on December 10. The authorities seem to have sobered up and realized that the ban on marches mars their image," said the HAK representative.
Levon Zurabyan couldn't say on which criteria the authorities released political prisoners. "The authorities treat political prisoners as their hostages and have put them on sale. Releasing them one after another they try to extort concessions from public, opposition and international structures. That's why we do not take the authorities seriously and don't start a dialogue with them. They are vandals. We shall not enter a dialogue with them unless the last political prisoner is freed.
Let me bring the example of chief editor of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Nikol Pashinyan who is still kept in detention. The Central Election Commission has registered Pashinyan as a parliamentary candidate but Pashinyan's right to inviolability is breached. Pashinyan can be kept in custody only by a CEC decision which doesn't exist as such. If, in reality, the authorities are ready to compete with Pashinyan on an equal footing they must immediately release him otherwise they will confirm their cowardice and meanness.
Eventually, Pashinyan was registered as a candidate under the pressure of international structures and Armenian National Congress," concludde Levon Zurabyan.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/12/9/levon-zurabyan
Levon Zurabyan couldn't say on which criteria the authorities released political prisoners. "The authorities treat political prisoners as their hostages and have put them on sale. Releasing them one after another they try to extort concessions from public, opposition and international structures. That's why we do not take the authorities seriously and don't start a dialogue with them. They are vandals. We shall not enter a dialogue with them unless the last political prisoner is freed.
Let me bring the example of chief editor of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Nikol Pashinyan who is still kept in detention. The Central Election Commission has registered Pashinyan as a parliamentary candidate but Pashinyan's right to inviolability is breached. Pashinyan can be kept in custody only by a CEC decision which doesn't exist as such. If, in reality, the authorities are ready to compete with Pashinyan on an equal footing they must immediately release him otherwise they will confirm their cowardice and meanness.
Eventually, Pashinyan was registered as a candidate under the pressure of international structures and Armenian National Congress," concludde Levon Zurabyan.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/12/9/levon-zurabyan
Verdict not announced for Arshak Banouchyan
On December 9, Kentron and Nork-Marash district Court was scheduled to return a verdict on Arshak Banuchyan, assistant director of the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts and head of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's pre-election office during the 2008 presidential elections.
After a 20-minute delay, Judge Gagik Poghosyan's secretary announced that the judge was busy in the retiring-room and the presentees would additionally be informed about the data of the next sitting.
With regard to Prosecutor Armen Bohnaghyan's motion to sentence the defendant to 4,5 years' imprisonment, Banuchyan said: "I know that I am innocent. So are my friends locked in different prisons. I shall struggle till the end to administer justice in Armenia."
Arshak Banuchyan is charged under Article 205 of the Armenian Criminal Code (money squandering) and Article 179 (evasion of taxes).
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/12/9/ashot-banuchya
After a 20-minute delay, Judge Gagik Poghosyan's secretary announced that the judge was busy in the retiring-room and the presentees would additionally be informed about the data of the next sitting.
With regard to Prosecutor Armen Bohnaghyan's motion to sentence the defendant to 4,5 years' imprisonment, Banuchyan said: "I know that I am innocent. So are my friends locked in different prisons. I shall struggle till the end to administer justice in Armenia."
Arshak Banuchyan is charged under Article 205 of the Armenian Criminal Code (money squandering) and Article 179 (evasion of taxes).
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/12/9/ashot-banuchya
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Human rights defender, Arshaluys Hakobyan was released
Paris-Geneva-Yerevan, October 20, 2009. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), along with the Civil Society Institute, Helsinki Citizen's Assembly Vanadzor office, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Collaboration for Democracy centre, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Centre, as well as the Foundation against Violation of Law, welcome the release on bail of human rights defender Arshaluys Hakobyan.
On October 16, 2009, the Court of First instance of Kentron and Nork Marash Communities of Yerevan decided to release on bail Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, a member of the Armenian Helsinki Association and press photographer of the official website of the organisation (www.hahr.am), who had been in pre-trial detention for four months. Immediately after the hearing, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan had to sign a document by which he committed not to leave the area. He eventually walked out of the court room free and the trial was postponed pending complementary investigation.
On June 6, 2009 the Court of First Instance for Kentron and Nork-Marash districts had placed Mr. Hakobyan in pre-trial detention. His arrest followed his attempt to monitor the elections for the Mayor of Yerevan together with a group of observers. After he had filed a complaint to challenge denial to accede a polling station, the police summoned him and eventually arrested him. Mr. Hakobyan was charged with "violence against a Government representative" pursuant to Article 316 of the Criminal Code and trial started on September 16, 2009.
The aforementioned organisations welcome Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan's release, and thank all the persons, institutions and organisations who intervened in his favour. Nevertheless, our organisations deplore that Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan remains charged with "violence against a Government representative". Our organisations urge the Armenian authorities to put an end to any kind of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, in conformity with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Armenia.
Our organisations also denounce that, in the course of arrest and detention, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan was subjected to acts of ill-treatment. Therefore we urge the Armenian authorities to order a thorough, immediate, effective and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned facts, the result of which must be made public, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the sanctions provided by the law.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/society/2009/10/20/human-rights
On October 16, 2009, the Court of First instance of Kentron and Nork Marash Communities of Yerevan decided to release on bail Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, a member of the Armenian Helsinki Association and press photographer of the official website of the organisation (www.hahr.am), who had been in pre-trial detention for four months. Immediately after the hearing, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan had to sign a document by which he committed not to leave the area. He eventually walked out of the court room free and the trial was postponed pending complementary investigation.
On June 6, 2009 the Court of First Instance for Kentron and Nork-Marash districts had placed Mr. Hakobyan in pre-trial detention. His arrest followed his attempt to monitor the elections for the Mayor of Yerevan together with a group of observers. After he had filed a complaint to challenge denial to accede a polling station, the police summoned him and eventually arrested him. Mr. Hakobyan was charged with "violence against a Government representative" pursuant to Article 316 of the Criminal Code and trial started on September 16, 2009.
The aforementioned organisations welcome Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan's release, and thank all the persons, institutions and organisations who intervened in his favour. Nevertheless, our organisations deplore that Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan remains charged with "violence against a Government representative". Our organisations urge the Armenian authorities to put an end to any kind of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, in conformity with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Armenia.
Our organisations also denounce that, in the course of arrest and detention, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan was subjected to acts of ill-treatment. Therefore we urge the Armenian authorities to order a thorough, immediate, effective and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned facts, the result of which must be made public, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the sanctions provided by the law.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/society/2009/10/20/human-rights
Friday, October 09, 2009
Tigran Arakelyan is free
The RA Prosecutor General's office has discussed the process of the preliminary investigation at the Kentron investigation division of the RA Police of the criminal case against representative of the Armenian National Congress youth wing Tigran Arakelyan at the Kentron investigation division of the RA Police. Tigran Arakelyan is charged with committing a hooligan act and applying force against a state figure. The investigator gave a report of the evidence and the range of issues to be discussed during the preliminary investigation.
As press speaker for the RA Prosecutor General Sona Truzyan told "A1+" that a testimony was given to the investigator to speed up the necessary investigation.
Taking into account the fact that the main examination has been completed and Tigran Arakelyan's arrest will not impede further examination, and the diagnosis of a convulsion of Tigran's eye nerve given by the chief optician of the RA Ministry of Health, a testimony has been given to change his precautionary measure, that is, imprisonment and choose a new precautionary measure with his signature to not leave the country.
Let us remind that Tigran Sargsyan is in critical health condition. He is diagnosed with convulsion of the left eye nerve. Tigran was arrested on July 5 after the representatives of the Armenian National Congress youth wing got into a conflict with the police while passing out flyers about the Congress rally.
A short while ago, Tigran was released from the Prisoners' Hospital and immediately headed toward the Saryan statute to meet with his fellow Armenian National Congress members. Members of the congress and friends had gathered near the hospital half an hour before Tigran's release and greeted him shouting "Freedom", and "Free, independent Armenia".
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/10/8/tigran-arakelyan
As press speaker for the RA Prosecutor General Sona Truzyan told "A1+" that a testimony was given to the investigator to speed up the necessary investigation.
Taking into account the fact that the main examination has been completed and Tigran Arakelyan's arrest will not impede further examination, and the diagnosis of a convulsion of Tigran's eye nerve given by the chief optician of the RA Ministry of Health, a testimony has been given to change his precautionary measure, that is, imprisonment and choose a new precautionary measure with his signature to not leave the country.
Let us remind that Tigran Sargsyan is in critical health condition. He is diagnosed with convulsion of the left eye nerve. Tigran was arrested on July 5 after the representatives of the Armenian National Congress youth wing got into a conflict with the police while passing out flyers about the Congress rally.
A short while ago, Tigran was released from the Prisoners' Hospital and immediately headed toward the Saryan statute to meet with his fellow Armenian National Congress members. Members of the congress and friends had gathered near the hospital half an hour before Tigran's release and greeted him shouting "Freedom", and "Free, independent Armenia".
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/10/8/tigran-arakelyan
Saturday, September 19, 2009
"Robert Kocahryan is the godfather of March 1"
Opposition Heritage faction MP Armen Martirosian today demanded Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian's resignation for concealing the perpetrators of March 1 deadly clashes.
"On March 1 I said there were provocateurs among demonstrators. Why didn't the NA Ad-Hoc Commission looking into the March 1-2 events refer to it in its final report?" Armen Martirosian asked the Commission Chair and added». The answer is simple: the Prosecutor's Office did not order the Commission to disclose and liquidate the provocateurs."
Then, the Heritage MP raised rhetoric questions: "What was the use of an armoured car in the capital? Were they liberating the city from enemies? What were the Defence Ministry troops doing at the square?"
"Robert Kocahryan is the godfather of the March 1 carnage and he must shoulder full responsibility for the deadly clashes," announced freelance parliamentarian Victor Dallakian. "Starting from 1991, presidential elections in Armenia ended in cataclysms and tragedies. History shows that power change is impossible in Armenia through elections. The only attempt to change power through elections failed in 1999 and ended with the parliamentary carnage of October 27."
"President's chair is mined in Armenia," announced the deputy and suggested changing the constitutional order making Armenia a parliamentary country with a president having symbolic powers.
Commission member and leader of the National Concord Party Aram Harutiunian said March 1 could have been averted through the All-Armenian Catholicos. "On March 1 the Catholicos was to go and speak to people instead of meeting the two presidents.'
Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Davit Harutiunian, criticized the Armenian police and Prosecutor's Office for inexperienced work, drawbacks and non-professionalism.
Coalition parties sounded pleased with the parliamentary commission laying the blame on the opposition.
poted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/09/17/parliament
Then, the Heritage MP raised rhetoric questions: "What was the use of an armoured car in the capital? Were they liberating the city from enemies? What were the Defence Ministry troops doing at the square?"
"Robert Kocahryan is the godfather of the March 1 carnage and he must shoulder full responsibility for the deadly clashes," announced freelance parliamentarian Victor Dallakian. "Starting from 1991, presidential elections in Armenia ended in cataclysms and tragedies. History shows that power change is impossible in Armenia through elections. The only attempt to change power through elections failed in 1999 and ended with the parliamentary carnage of October 27."
"President's chair is mined in Armenia," announced the deputy and suggested changing the constitutional order making Armenia a parliamentary country with a president having symbolic powers.
Commission member and leader of the National Concord Party Aram Harutiunian said March 1 could have been averted through the All-Armenian Catholicos. "On March 1 the Catholicos was to go and speak to people instead of meeting the two presidents.'
Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Davit Harutiunian, criticized the Armenian police and Prosecutor's Office for inexperienced work, drawbacks and non-professionalism.
Coalition parties sounded pleased with the parliamentary commission laying the blame on the opposition.
poted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/09/17/parliament
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