ArmenPress
Jan 26 2005

ARMEN AVETISIAN’S FELLOWS SEEK HIS RELEASE

YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS; A senior member of the
ultra-nationalist Armenian Aryan Union told a news conference today
that party members will appeal against a local court decision that
sanctioned the arrest of their leader, Armen Avetisian, on charges of
inciting ethnic intolerance late Monday.
Armen Avetisian was placed in custody pending a criminal
investigation into his anti-Jewish statements. He is prosecuted under
an article of the Armenian Criminal Code that envisaged between three
and six years’ imprisonment for persons who incite `ethnic, racial
and religious hatred.’
His party fellows have established a committee in defense of
Avetisian together with Hayots Toon (Armenian Home) non-governmental
organization. A lawyer Melania Arustamian will defend his interests
during the trial.
In a series of newspaper interviews and TV appearances Avetisian
used to put the blame for Armenia’s political and socioeconomic woes
on Jews. He has also won a notorious fame in recent months claiming
that some government and parliament members are homosexuals.