ARMENIA: A TEST CASE FOR POLITICAL FREEDOM IS UNDERWAY IN YEREVAN
Marianna Grigoryan

EurasiaNet
Dec 22 2008
NY

It is known in opposition circles as the "Trial of the Seven." Instead
of bringing a sense of closure in politically divided Armenia, the
case is threatening to reopen old wounds.

The trial, involving seven opposition leaders accused of fomenting
violent confrontations in Yerevan on March 1, is scheduled to resume
on December 23. Even though it was announced in advance that the trial
would be open to adult citizens, authorities closed off access to
the court room on December 19, the first day of arguments, deploying
a strong contingent of police to keep a sizable crowd of opposition
supporters away from the proceedings.

On December 19, hundreds of opposition supporters gathered opposite the
courthouse to register their complaints, waving banners with slogans
such as "I am the Next One," "Free the Magnificent Seven" and "The
Best Guys are in Prison." The case involves former foreign minister
and current leading opposition member Alexander Arzumanian, members
of parliament Hakob Hakobian, Myasnik Malkhasian and Sasun Mikaelian,
and opposition leaders Grigor Voskerchian, Suren Sirunian and Shant
Harutiunian. All of the defendants backed Levon Ter-Petrosian in the
controversial presidential election in February. Acrimony arising out
of opposition allegations of vote-rigging led to a prolonged protest
that culminated in the March events. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].

"The Case of the Seven is a totally absurd case, it is a trumped up
case," Ruzan Khachatrian, a leading member of the opposition People’s
Party of Armenia, told EurasiaNet. "It is not the first time that
such methods are used to put pressure on the opposition. After
March 1, authorities have done everything in order to behead
the opposition. Some of the leaders are in prison, others are in
hiding. And after such a critical evaluation from the PACE it is
difficult to predict what the authorities, which have gone too far,
will do."

The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) in Paris earlier this December recommended
that the Strasbourg-based organization impose sanctions on Armenia,
contending that Armenian leaders have not complied with its April
and June resolutions to release "political prisoners." The committee
specifically called for the suspension of voting rights of Armenia’s
PACE delegation until officials in Yerevan "demonstrated their
political will to resolve this issue." Armenian leaders are set
to meet with PACE representatives in early January. PACE is due to
consider the committee’s recommendation in late January.

Meeting journalists on December 12, Armenia’s Ombudsman Armen
Harutiunian stated that he would pay close attention to the Trial
of the Seven. "Since both sides in the March 1 case have focused
their forces on this case, this becomes a central case, the issue of
organizers arises, that is, everything will become clear with this
case," said Harutiunian.

Independent political analyst Yervand Bozoyan tells EurasiaNet that
quite a difficult situation has been created.

"It is difficult to say at this moment what course the Seven Case will
take, however I do not exclude the variant of a general amnesty,"
Bozoyan said. "It is apparent authorities were not ready for such a
critical attitude from the PACE."

Recently in an interview with RFERL, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State Matthew Bryza said he was seriously concerned by the presence of
such detainees in Armenia. "There are still detained, in my opinion,
67 opposition figures. Our view is that no one must be detained on
political grounds," he said.

Senior representative of the governing Republican Party of Armenia
Edward Sharmazanov also said that defendants ought not to be convicted
solely on the basis of their political views.

"Authorities have done a lot towards complying with the PACE
resolutions in this difficult situation," Sharmazanov told
EurasiaNet. "Much depends on the Seven Case. The court process is
open. People should not be convicted for their political views, but
if they are guilty, they should be judged according to their deeds."

"The imposition of sanctions would not be the best means to encourage
democracy in our county," Sharmazanov added.