Interfax, Russia
Sept 18 2009

Three Armenian opposition lawmakers lose mandates as organizers of unrest

YEREVAN Sept 18

Armenia’s Central Election Commission has annulled the mandates of
three parliamentary deputies, the commission told Interfax on
Thursday.

"The opposition deputies Sasun Mikaelian, Akop Akopian and Myasnik
Malkhasian are under court verdicts," it said.

The deputies were earlier charged with organizing mass disturbances in
Yerevan on March 1, 2008. Akopian and Malkhasian were freed under
amnesty and Mikaelian was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Mikaelian’s place will be filled by Republican Party member Ovanes
Saakian under the party ticket. Elections will be held in the two
electoral districts, where Malkhasian and Akopian ran, the commission
said.

Clashes erupted between police and opposition activists protesting the
outcome of the presidential election in Yerevan on March 1, in which
ten people were killed and over 250 injured.

Earlier, Khachatur Sukiasian gave up his parliamentary mandate. He had
been on a wanted list on charges of organizing mass disturbances in
March 2008.