YEREVAN RIOT PARTICIPANT SENTENCED TO 3.5 YEARS IN JAIL

Interfax News Agency
May 15 2008
Russia

The Yerevan Criminal Court sentenced Mkrtich Abramian to 3.5 years in
custody on Thursday for taking part in the Yerevan riots on March 1,
Armenian Appeal Court press secretary Alina Yengoyan told Interfax.

Fifty-four people are pending trial on riot charges.

As of May 12, 40 criminal cases of 43 individuals were transferred
to court by the Armenian Special Investigation Service and nine by
the National Security Service.

All in all, courts will hear 49 criminal cases of 52 individuals
initiated by the National Security Service.

The opposition led by ex-president and presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian began protests against the results of the February
19 election. The protests developed into clashes with the police on
March 1. Ten people died and over 250 were injured.

Ter-Petrosian’s supporters still refuse to recognize the election
results.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress