ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT OKS AMNESTY FOR ELECTION RIOTS

AP
2009-06-19 19:29:02

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Armenia’s parliament overwhelmingly backed
granting full amnesty to more than 500 people detained after deadly
riots that followed the February 2008 presidential election.

Supporters of former President Levon Ter-Petrosian led protests in
Yerevan claiming the vote was flawed and their candidate should have
won. The protests turned violent on March 1-2. Clashes with police
left 10 people dead and more than 250 injured.

Serzh Sarkisian, who won the vote, proposed the amnesty as a way to
ease tensions.

Among the more than 500 to be freed under the amnesty is a former
foreign minister. Another 1,500 people linked to the riots will have
their sentences cut.

The proposal now goes to Sarkisian for his signature.