Agence France Presse
April 24, 2004 Saturday

US citizen arrested in Armenia over opposition protests

YEREVAN

Armenian prosecutors arrested a US citizen for taking part in
opposition rallies calling for a violent overthrowal of the existing
order, the prosecutor general’s press service said Friday.

Arthur Vardanyan, a former Armenian national who obtained US
citizenship in 2002, was also suspected of illegally crossing the
Armenian border using his Armenian passport, officials said.

According to prosecutors, Vardanyan was actively involved in
Armenia’s various political activities, particularly during last
year’s electoral period, and then took part in a massive wave of
protests demanding the resignation of President Robert Kocharyan.

The Armenian opposition says that Kocharyan rigged a run-off
presidential vote in March 2003 to secure a second term in office and
is demanding that he either organize a national referendum of
confidence in his rule or step down.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress