COMFY PRISON PIC SPARKS OUTRAGE IN ARMENIA

Radio Free Europe
December 2, 2009

Armenia’s Justice Ministry has ordered an inquiry after a photo
emerged of pro-government newspaper editor meeting under seemingly
comfy prison conditions with three convicted murderers.

The front-page photo in the opposition daily "Haykakan Zhamanak"
shows editor Artyom Khachatrian of the daily newspaper "Azatamtutyun"
and his aide drinking coffee and soft drinks with two men serving
life sentences in Yerevan’s prison for the killings in the Armenian
parliament 10 years ago.

Derenik Bejanian and Eduard Grigorian were among the gunmen who burst
into parliament in October 1999, killing speaker Karen Demirchian,
Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, and six other politicians.

They share a prison cell with Arsen Ardzruni, a former member of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation who was convicted of being a member
of a death squad that allegedly operated in the early 1990s.

"Haykakan Zhamanak" called the photograph scandalous, saying it proves
a serious breach of prison regulations.

Representatives of two main pro-government parties questioned the
authenticity of the photograph.

But Galust Sahakian, the parliamentary leader of President Serzh
Sarkisian’s Republican Party, said he will be "furious" if it turns
out to be real. Sahakian called the photo "a disgrace" that will
create a problem for state security.

Lana Mshetsian, a Justice Ministry spokeswoman, told RFE/RL that the
picture will be examined in order to determine whether prison rules
regulating visits to inmates were violated.

Meanwhile, Khachatrian confirmed he visited the prison on October 5.

He told RFE/RL that the photo was stolen from his office and he knows
who stole it.He was quick to add that he doesn’t see anything wrong
with the picture, sayingthe law allows journalists to visit prisoners
in their cell with their consent.

"Haykakan Zhamanak" claims that under prison rules nobody is allowed
to meet with more than one prisoner at a time. Khachatrian said prison
officials "saved time" by letting him visit with three prisoners at
the same time.

"Azatamtutyun" is known for its criticism of the opposition, which
claims that the newspaper is funded by people close to Sarkisian.

Khachatrian, once a harsh critic of Sarkisian and his predecessor
Robert Kocharian, is also known as the organizer of a protest by a
small group of government supporters outside opposition leader Levon
Ter-Petrosian’s house during the 2008 presidential race.