VARDAN MALKHASIAN RELEASED

Noyan Tapan

Dec 10, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Vardan Malkhasian, a member of the
Consolidation of Armenian Volunteers union and of the Board of the
Homeland and Honor party, was released from the Vardashen penitentiary
institution in the morning of December 10. It should be mentioned
that in 2006 he was found guilty by Article 301, RA Criminal Code
for voicing "appeals aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order
by force" and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Dozens of representatives of the Resistance of Political Prisoners’
Children youth organization and Consolidation of Armenian Volunteers
had come to meet V. Malkhasian. Coming out of the prison gates,
V. Malkhasian addressed to those gathered and showing a model of a
wooden church he was holding in his hand stated that it had been made
by political prisoners. As he explained, the red paint spattered
on the church symbolizes the blood of innocent citizens who died
on March 1. According to V. Malkhasian, the responsibility of that
blood lays not only on "the authorities seizing the power," but also
on the Armenian church led by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II,
as the "March 1 crime" was committed with the very silent consent of
the latter.

In his interview to journalists V. Malkhasian stated that he will
continue fighting the regime "in any way, by all means." Touching
upon ANC’s decision to stop the rallies for some time, he said that
he trusts first President Levon Ter-Petrosian’s wisdom and considers
that he cannot make wrong decisions.

V. Malkhasian planted a tree in the penitentiary institutions’s
yard with political prisoners’ children stating that it is a symbol
of freedom.