Interfax, Russia
Dec 20 2008
Two people convicted for March unrest in Yerevan appeal for pardon
YEREVAN Dec 20
Two people convicted for involvement in the March 1, 2008 unrest in
Yerevan have appealed to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan for pardon,
Armen Khachatrian, a coordinator of the Service of Legal Support for
Political Prisoners, said on Radio Liberty on Saturday.
"One of the convicts, Karen Tarkhanian, has been sentenced to four
years in prison for organizing mass unrest. He almost lost his vision
behind bars and has serious problems with his health. The other
convict, Avetik Grechian, is serving his sentence for illegal carrying
of weapons. The circumstances that have prompted him to appeal to the
president have yet to be clarified," Khachatrian said.
The Armenian president amnestied three convicts serving their terms
for involvement in the March events in Yerevan on December 8.
"They were sentenced to three to three and a half years for resisting
police and taking violent actions," presidential press secretary
Samvel Farmanian said.
va