Trend News Agency , Azerbaijan
March 9 2009

Sergey Hakobjanyan and Grigor Minasyan set free
09.03.09 17:36

Director of the "Charles Aznavour" Benevolent Fund of Akhaltskha
Sergey Hakobjanyan and Director of the Youth Center Grigor Minasyan
have been released. The Armenian public figures had been arrested by
Georgian law-enforcement bodies in January on charges of spying and
creating an illegal armed grouping, Public Radio of Armenia reported.

Today Grigor Minasyan gave an exclusive interview to "Radiolur,"
expressing gratitude to Armenian media for actively following the
development of events in this period and asked reporters not to bother
them, since he has promised the law-enforcement bodies of Georgia not
to give interviews and reveal the details of the case.

Accompanied by Georgian policemen, Sergey Hakobjanyan and Grigor
Minasyan came to Akhaltskha the night of March 6. Sunday Grigor
Minasyan visited the only functioning Armenian Church in Akhaltskha,
St. Gregory the Illuminator, where Armenians welcomed him with tears
in their eyes.

Today Sergey Hakobjanyan and Grigor Minasyan celebrate their freedom
with friends. Asked how he fees now, Grigor Minasyan said: "I feel
normal. I enjoy the delight of freedom."

As it was mentioned above, the two Armenians are accused of creating
an illegal grouping and spying (Articles 223 and 314 of the Georgian
Criminal Code). On March 6 they were condemned to one year of
suspended sentence and were set free on a 2000 lari bail.

Grigor Minasyan said in a phone talk with "Radiolur: "I can only say
that I accept the charges against me. I did it unconsciously, without
any intention of doing harm to Georgia and Armenia. I had no intention
to consciously harm my Motherland, Georgia."

He added that he is not hostile towards Georgia. "Armenia and Georgia
are two parts of my heart and my activity was not consciously targeted
against their interests, but investigation has shown that I have
committed a crime," Minasyan said, adding that he could make no more
comments, since he pledged not to give any interviews or reveal any
details of the case.

"I wish to express gratitude to all those in Armenia, who sincerely
want to help us," he said.