INITIATIVE GROUP FROM CALIFORNIA (USA) PROTESTS AGAINST CONVICTION OF EDITOR OF "ZHAMANAK LOS-ANGELES" NEWSPAPER

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006

The initiative group from California state (USA) protests against
conviction of the editor of "Zhamanak Los Angeles" newspaper, Arman
Babajanyan, by the Armenian court.

To remind, the court of first instance has sentenced A. Babajanyan in
October, 2006, to 4 years of imprisonment for "evasion of servicing
in Army". The statement, received by ArmInfo today, reminds that A.

Babajanyan was convinced, according to the formulation of judges, for
"violation of RA Law on Compulsory Military Service" and according to
the Article 327 of RA Criminal Code. Moreover, the document notes that
the sentence, passed on Babajanyan, cannot take effect, since the Law
envisages a fine, while the RA CC – imprisonment. The document authors
call to change the restraint to Babajanyan for a fine, "taking into
account that Arman Babajanyan is a worthy son of his Motherland".