PACE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT STATE OF PERSONS IMPRISONED FOR POLITICAL MOTIVATION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Jan 28, 2009

STRASBOURG, JANUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The PACE made a decision not to
suspend the voting rights of the Armenian delegation at this stage,
considering recent initiatives of Armenian authorities as a sign of
their willingness to implement the requirements of PACE Resolutions
1609 and 1620.

In Resolution 1643 passed by it, the PACE expresses discontent and
serious concern about the state of those imprisoned in connection with
the March 1-2 events in Yerevan. Nevertheless, the PACE believes that
the number of pardons granted by Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan (28
to date), the latest initiative of the National Assembly of Armenia to
amend the RA Criminal Code’s Articles 225 and 300 (about mass disorder
and usurpation of state power) in line with Council of Europe standards
within two months, as well as the positive steps taken for conducting 3
independent, transparent and reliable inquiries show that the Armenian
authorities are ready to implement the demands of the PACE.

The PACE also expressed concern about those who were imprisoned for
political motivation after events of March 1-2, 2008, and called on
Armenian authorities to continue releasing them by using other legal
means, including pardon and withdrawal of charges. The PACE also
proposed that the PACE Monitoring Committee should examine, prior
to the April session, progress made by the Armenian authorities in
terms of application of the previous resolutions, and based on the
situation, the Monitoring Committee should suggest futhur steps to
be taken by the PACE.