ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO ANNOUNCE AMNESTY

Trend
May 22 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will pardon those who were arrested
during the March 1 events in Yerevan, Radio Liberty quoted Speaker of
the Armenian parliament Ovik Abramyan as saying. He said the president
will announce amnesty on May 28, the Day of Independence.

It is noticeable that representative of opposition Heritage
faction Stepan Safaryan asked the speaker while approving agenda
of parliament’s session why the agenda did not include restoration
of immunity of MPs Sasun Mikaelyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan and Akop
Akopyan. "We are watching events. I am sure that these processes
are positive and we will achieve positive results. I want processes
related to our colleagues to be positive," Speaker Abramyan said. But
he did not reveal what was the matter. He said just "believe me,"
Armenia Today reported.

Political situation in Armenia deteriorated after the presidential
elections on 19 February 2008, when opposition, dissatisfied with
the election outcome and led by former Armenian President Levon
Ter-Petrosian launched a massive protest action.

On March 1, police conducted "an operation to clear the Square of
Freedom" beating demonstrators. As a result, ten people were killed,
including eight civilians and over 250 people were injured.