THREE PARTICIPANTS OF MASS RIOTS IN YEREVAN SENTENCED TO VARIOUS TERMS

Interfax News Agency
July 16 2008
Russia

The Yerevan Criminal Court sentenced Armenak Abraamian, a participant
in the March riots in Yerevan, to a three-year suspended sentence,
Armenian Court of Appeals spokeswoman Alina Yengoyan said.

He was charged under the Criminal Code’s article on "mass riots."

Yengoyan said that two other participants of the March riots,
Mikael Serobian and Suren Minasian were also sentenced to suspended
sentences. "They were charged with theft and sentenced to a two-year
and one-year suspended sentence respectively, she said.

In addition, the General Jurisdiction Court of the Nork-Marash and
Centre communities of Yerevan sentenced Aslan Avetisian to six months
in jail, she said.

He was also charged under the Criminal Code article on mass riots,
she said.

"Artak Nagapetian received a suspended two-year sentence. He has been
charged with theft," she said.

Following the presidential election on February 19, the Armenian
opposition headed by former president Levon Ter-Petrosian organized
large-scale protests. On March 1, these protests led to clashes with
police killing ten and wounding more than 250 people.

Currently 17 people are under preliminary arrest.