ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN INSISTS ON AMNESTY
Interfax
June 1 2009
Russia
Armenian Human Rights Ombudsman Armen Arutyunian has urged President
Serzh Sargsyan to announce an amnesty.
I ask the Armenian president to announce an amnesty. Also, I appeal
to political forces, public figures and the Public Council to use
this exclusive occasion and ask the president to suggest an amnesty
to the National Assembly, he said.
Sargsyan said last week that he was ready to amnesty persons convicted
for the March 2008 riots.
The previous amnesty was held in 2006. The idea of a new amnesty has
matured, and I am ready to use my constitutional right, he said.
The Armenian opposition led by former president Levon Ter- Petrossian
refused to recognize results of the presidential elections held on
February 19, 2008, and organized protests. The protests developed into
clashes with the opposition on March 1. Ten people died and more than
250 were injured.
Former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanian, deputies Myasnik
Malkhasian, Sasun Mikaelian and Akop Akopian and opposition activists
Shant Arutyunian and Suren Sirunian were the main defendants.
They were charged with organizing massive riots in December 2008.
Arutyunian was set free on May 13 as doctors said he was temporarily
insane during the riots. His case was suspended.