ARMENIA: SOME CHARGES DROPPED, BUT ARMENIA’S SEVEN STILL IN PRISON

Eurasianet

April 2, 2009

During a disorderly April 1 hearing, an Armenian court dropped
coup charges against seven prominent supporters of former president
Levon Ter-Petrosian. The charges were dropped as a result of recent
modifications in Armenia’s Criminal Code.

Judge Mnatsakan Martirosian, however, refused to free the defendants
until the prosecution reformulates its charges according to the
recently adopted amendments. The pro-opposition A1plus news website
reported that the defendants will be tried separately in the future.

The seven men stood trial on charges of attempted "usurpation
of power" and organizing "mass disturbances" during March 2008
government-opposition clashes that left at least 10 people dead. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The prosecution said on April 1 that the defendants would continue
to face charges of illegal possession of arms and resisting law
enforcement officers.