Tuesday, October 12, 2010

South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders Speaks Out Against Political Prisoners in Armenia

A press release issued by the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders on the recent indictment of Haykakan Zhamanak ("Armenian Times") chief editor Nikol Pashinyan reads as follows:

"On January 19, the Court of First Instance of Kentron and Nork Marash districts of Yerevan, presided by Judge M. Martirosyan passed sentence on Nikol Pashinyan and convicted him to 7 years of imprisonment.

"After the February 19, 2008 presidential elections, Pashinyan was among those who participated in the non-violent demonstrations and rallies held by the opposition, which demanded the authorities to abolish the results of falsified elections. On March 1, 2008, an opposition protest was suppressed as a result of provost operations and with the assistance of band-formations using firearms and special means. According to official information, 10 people died as a result of clashes between protestors and police, dozens of people received wounds of various degrees of seriousness, and hundreds were arrested.

Armenian News

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