ARMENIAN OPPOSITION EDITOR JAILED OVER 2008 CLASHES

Reuters
Jan 19 2010

YEREVAN, Jan 19 (Reuters) – The editor of an Armenian opposition
newspaper was sentenced to seven years in jail on Tuesday over deadly
clashes between police and protesters in March 2008 after the election
of President Serzh Sarksyan.

Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times) editor Nikol Pashinyan was
acquitted of using violence against a police officer but found guilty
of inciting mass disorder. His defence lawyer said he would appeal
against the verdict.

Eight protesters and two police officers died when opposition
demonstrators and police clashed in the former Soviet republic
after Sarksyan defeated opposition presidential challenger Levon
Ter-Petrosyan.

Pashinyan fled but later came out of hiding when authorities announced
an amnesty for those who would be sentenced to up to five years
in jail.

Some 100 people were arrested during a state of emergency after the
violence, in which authorities accused the opposition of trying to
overthrow the government.

Rights groups and the Armenian opposition accuse Sarksyan’s government
of pursuing politically motivated trials over the unrest and failing
to investigate accusations that the police used excessive force.

The government denies the accusations, and has pardoned a number of
senior opposition figures. (Reporting by Hasmik Lazarian; Writing
by Matt Robinson; Editing by Myra MacDonald)