ARMENIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT DOES NOT RULE OUT AMNESTY FOR RIOTERS

Interfax News Agency
March 19 2008
Russia

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan elected as president on February
19 did not rule out amnesty for individuals arrested for organizing
and participating in the mass unrest in Yerevan in early March,
he told National Assembly of Armenia on Wednesday.

"There will be no amnesty as a purely political measure in order gain
public feelings. I do not consider such amnesty to be advisable,"
he said.

"However, if I closely study the situation and make a conclusion on
its necessity, the amnesty will be declared for sure," he said.

"All my steps will be aimed at national development," he said.

As for the opposition’s statements on possible international
investigation of the events of March 1-2, Sargsyan said that
the arrival to Armenia of foreign experts and the creation of an
international commission is a procedure envisioned by UN regulations.

"If you see this procedure, you will be able to assess the advisability
of this step," he said.

Armenia has no political prisoners to his knowledge, he said.

Meetings and processions of the radical opposition, that has not
recognized the results of the presidential elections, have been held
in Yerevan since February 20. (The opposition is headed by candidate
for president, the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian.)
These demonstrations developed into mass disorders where eight people
were killed and more than 200 people were wounded.

On the night before March 2 the incumbent President Robert Kocharian
decreed a state of emergency in Yerevan.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, 106 people have been
arrested in connection with the criminal case on the unrest.