CHANGE ESPECIALLY FOR "CASE OF SEVEN"

A1+
[08:22 pm] 03 February, 2009

The changes and additions foreseen in the Criminal Court Code under
discussion in the National Assembly today are correlated to the fate
of the "Case of Seven". In the package deal, the government proposes
to hold trials without the defendants. Everyone was for this change,
except the "Heritage" party and independent deputy Victor Dallakyan.

"In any case, there may be people who take part in the sessions
without knowing whether what they are doing is a violation of the
order or not. The order is presented during each session. If it
is violated after a warning, the judge must apply sanction. As for
disrespect towards the court, punishment is foreseen by article 343
of the Criminal Code," said Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan.

Although the minister did not pinpoint any case while presenting
the bill, in an interview with "A1+" Victor Dallakyan said that the
change is based on the situation and it is directly linked to the
"Case of Seven" because it is this case that is postponed every time
due to the defendants’ refusal to stand up.

"I believe that the key to breaking the inter-political tension is
amnesty," said Dallakyan. He believes that by declaring amnesty,
Serzh Sargsyan will ease the tension in the country and meet the
demands of the PACE.

"I think that the authorities will solve that issue by making changes
to articles 225 and 300 and declaring amnesty," said Dallakyan.

Dallakyan believes that the authorities had to declare amnesty back
in November 2008.

"Back then the opposition had stopped the movement and there were no
pressures against Armenia from European organizations. The authorities
did not take that step, but they still have a chance."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress