YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 5-11, 2010
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND RESOLUTION ON GENOCIDE OF
1915
TERM OF PUNISHMENT OF "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" CHIEF EDITOR REDUCED
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND RESOLUTION ON GENOCIDE OF
1915
On March 9, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project, supported
by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC President
Boris Navasardian were Hakob Avetikian, Chief Editor of "Azg" daily, and
Aram Abrahamian, Chief Editor of "Aravot" daily. The discussion centered on
the influence of Armenian-Turkish relations on the internal political
situation in Armenia, namely in frames of the voting of resolution on
Genocide of 1915 by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of US House of
Representatives.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on March 16, at
21.15.
TERM OF PUNISHMENT OF "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" CHIEF EDITOR REDUCED
On March 9 RA Criminal Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on the case of
Chief Editor of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily, Nikol Pashinian, sentenced to
seven years of imprisonment. As it has been reported, on January 19 court of
general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan found
Nikol Pashinian guilty by Part 1 of Article 225 of RA Criminal Code ("Mass
Riots"), at the same time the charges for Part 1 of Article 316 ("Violence
against a Representative of Power") were dismissed (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, January 14-21, 2010).
Both parties appealed the decision of the court of general jurisdiction. The
lawyers of the head of "Haykakan Zhamanak" demanded to acquit Nikol
Pashinian of all charges, while the prosecutor claimed to return him guilty
not only for mass riots, but also for violence against a representative of
power.
The Criminal Court of Appeal revoked both of the demands and applied an
amnesty on Nikol Pashinian. (The amnesty, released on June 19, 2009 by the
decision of RA National Assembly, can expand on people announced wanted, who
had voluntarily surrendered to the law enforcement bodies by July 31, 2009.
Nikol Pashinian gave himself up on July 1, 2009.) The Court cut down the
unexpired term of imprisonment of Nikol Pashinian by half. The length of his
detention – since the day the judgment comes into force – will be determined
by the criminal executive institution, where the Chief Editor of "Haykakan
Zhamanak" will endure the punishment.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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