A1+

COURT OF CASSATION: THOSE SENTENCED TO LIFE
IMPRISONMENT ARE INNOCENT

[04:13 pm] 22 December, 2006

Today the Court of Cassation has made a sudden and sensational
decision: Razmik Sargsyan, Musa Serobyan and Arayik Zaryan who
were accused of the murder of soldiers Movses Mkrtoumyan and Roman
Eghiazaryan and sentenced to life imprisonment by the previous two
instances, have been declared innocent.

This is the first case in the history of the third Republic of Armenia,
taking into account the fact that military prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan
announced until the very last moment that the soldiers are guilty.

Let us remind you that the three soldiers have been imprisoned for
three years. They went on a long hunger-strike in order to prove their
innocence. Due to mal-nutrition they fainted during court sessions.
At present Razmik has tuberculosis. "The Mataghis Case" has been
covered in a number of local and foreign newspapers as downright
violation of human rights. Representatives of both the OSCE and many
Embassies have followed the course of the trial.

It is noteworthy that the session of the Court of Cassation was
fixed for December 20 but it was re-fixed for December 22 for unknown
reasons.

As for today’s trial, the court decision was so sudden for those
present that Razmik Sargsyan’s mother almost fainted, Radio station
"Azatutyun" reports. After hearing the decision the parents of the
accused started to kiss the hands of the judge.