Ex-Armenian minister put on trial
Days of peaceful protest in Yerevan turned violent in March
A former foreign minister of Armenia and six opposition politicians are being tried for seeking to overthrow the government earlier this year.
Alexander Arzoumanian is also accused of organising protests in March against election results, in which 10 people were killed.
The opposition says the trial is politically motivated. He and his co-accused deny the charges.
More than 50 people have already been convicted for being part of the unrest.
Opposition supporters cheered the defendants as they entered the courtroom with cries of "We are with you!" and "Free political prisoners!"
The accused face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of seeking to "usurp state power".
Street battles
Chief investigator Vahagn Harutyunyan said the case was based on evidence from 500 civilian and police witnesses.
"We have records of telephone conversations, private video recordings and television footage, and public speeches by opposition representatives," he told the Reuters news agency.
Mr Arzoumanian, who was foreign minister in the 1990s, is on trial alongside six others, including three members of parliament.
Earlier this year, he was campaign manager for former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian, who finished second in the poll.
The opposition said the vote, won by Serzh Sarkisian, was rigged.
The unrest arose when thousands Mr Ter-Petrosian's supporters rallied in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, for 11 days, before street battles broke out with riot police.
Two police officers and eight civilians were killed.
A state of emergency was declared and army vehicles were deployed on the streets before the protests were eventually dispersed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7791918.stm
Showing posts with label international. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international. Show all posts
Sunday, December 21, 2008
AFP reports:
Armenian ex-foreign minister on trial over deadly unrest
2 days ago
YEREVAN (AFP) — Seven top opposition supporters, including a former foreign minister, went on trial in Armenia Friday on charges of seeking to overthrow the government in unrest this year that left 10 dead.
Cries from supporters of "We are with you!" greeted the defendants as they entered a courtroom in the capital Yerevan where they face charges of seeking to "usurp state power" when they organised mass protests in February and March.
Former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanian, three members of parliament and three other government critics each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Outside the courtroom, dozens of protesters chanted "Free political prisoners!" and held pictures of the seven accused.
Before pleas could even be entered, lawyers for the defendants issued a series of petitions to the court, including one for the judge to recuse himself. The proceedings were initially suspended so the judge could consider the motions and then later adjourned until December 23.
Speaking to the court, Arzumanian condemned it for bringing the case to trial.
"You dare to accuse us! Me and my friends are the founders of this state. I signed dozens of international agreements in the name of the republic of Armenia. You should not have accepted this case," he said.
The charges stem from street battles that broke out when riot police moved in to disperse thousands of supporters of former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian rallying to denounce President Serzh Sarkisian's victory in a February election.
Two police officers and eight civilians were killed in the clashes and dozens more were injured, many from gunshot wounds. Ter-Petrosian had finished second in the vote and his supporters denounced the result as rigged.
Arzumanian, Armenia's foreign minister from 1996 to 1998, was Ter-Petrosian's election campaign manager.
Critics allege that the prosecution is politically motivated and aimed at stamping out opposition to Sarkisian in the ex-Soviet republic.
In an interview with Russian newspaper Kommersant published Friday, Ter-Petrosian said the charges against his supporters were "crudely forged" and that the trial was a form of "political punishment."
"The authorities are doing everything they can to shift responsibility to the opposition for their own crimes, namely the usurpation of state authority through the falsification of elections and the execution of peaceful protesters," he said.
The trial will be closely watched abroad as a sign of whether Armenia is meeting its democratic commitments.
Human rights and democracy watchdog the Council of Europe has already raised concerns about "seemingly artificial or politically motivated charges" against opposition supporters.
A committee of its parliamentary assembly recommended suspending the voting rights of Armenia's delegation, saying there are "strong indications" that many prosecutions in connection with the unrest "have been politically motivated."
The assembly is to vote on the recommendation at the end of next month.
Dozens were arrested following the violence and 52 have already been tried and received prison sentences ranging from six months to nine years.
Armenia -- a mountainous country of about three million people wedged between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey -- has seen repeated political violence and post-election protests since gaining independence with the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gM2SC8iUlfzq8Fr5ztKoq_MZFdyA
2 days ago
YEREVAN (AFP) — Seven top opposition supporters, including a former foreign minister, went on trial in Armenia Friday on charges of seeking to overthrow the government in unrest this year that left 10 dead.
Cries from supporters of "We are with you!" greeted the defendants as they entered a courtroom in the capital Yerevan where they face charges of seeking to "usurp state power" when they organised mass protests in February and March.
Former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanian, three members of parliament and three other government critics each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Outside the courtroom, dozens of protesters chanted "Free political prisoners!" and held pictures of the seven accused.
Before pleas could even be entered, lawyers for the defendants issued a series of petitions to the court, including one for the judge to recuse himself. The proceedings were initially suspended so the judge could consider the motions and then later adjourned until December 23.
Speaking to the court, Arzumanian condemned it for bringing the case to trial.
"You dare to accuse us! Me and my friends are the founders of this state. I signed dozens of international agreements in the name of the republic of Armenia. You should not have accepted this case," he said.
The charges stem from street battles that broke out when riot police moved in to disperse thousands of supporters of former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian rallying to denounce President Serzh Sarkisian's victory in a February election.
Two police officers and eight civilians were killed in the clashes and dozens more were injured, many from gunshot wounds. Ter-Petrosian had finished second in the vote and his supporters denounced the result as rigged.
Arzumanian, Armenia's foreign minister from 1996 to 1998, was Ter-Petrosian's election campaign manager.
Critics allege that the prosecution is politically motivated and aimed at stamping out opposition to Sarkisian in the ex-Soviet republic.
In an interview with Russian newspaper Kommersant published Friday, Ter-Petrosian said the charges against his supporters were "crudely forged" and that the trial was a form of "political punishment."
"The authorities are doing everything they can to shift responsibility to the opposition for their own crimes, namely the usurpation of state authority through the falsification of elections and the execution of peaceful protesters," he said.
The trial will be closely watched abroad as a sign of whether Armenia is meeting its democratic commitments.
Human rights and democracy watchdog the Council of Europe has already raised concerns about "seemingly artificial or politically motivated charges" against opposition supporters.
A committee of its parliamentary assembly recommended suspending the voting rights of Armenia's delegation, saying there are "strong indications" that many prosecutions in connection with the unrest "have been politically motivated."
The assembly is to vote on the recommendation at the end of next month.
Dozens were arrested following the violence and 52 have already been tried and received prison sentences ranging from six months to nine years.
Armenia -- a mountainous country of about three million people wedged between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey -- has seen repeated political violence and post-election protests since gaining independence with the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gM2SC8iUlfzq8Fr5ztKoq_MZFdyA
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
AFP reports on the trial
Armenian Ex-foreign Min, 6 Others Faces Trial Over Unrest
Wednesday December 17th, 2008 / 11h34
YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP)--Seven top Armenian opposition supporters, including an ex-foreign minister, will go on trial Friday on charges of seeking to overthrow the government in unrest this year that left 10 dead. Prosecutors allege former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanian, three members of parliament and two other government critics were seeking to "usurp state power" when they organized mass protests in February. Thousands of supporters of former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian rallied for 11 days to denounce President Serzh Sarkisian's victory in elections, before street battles broke out with riot police. Two police officers and eight civilians were killed in the clashes and dozens more were injured, many from gunshot wounds. Ter-Petrosian had finished second in the vote. Critics allege the prosecution is politically motivated and aimed at stamping out opposition to Sarkisian in the ex-Soviet republic. Arzumanian, Armenia's foreign minister from 1996 to 1998, was Ter-Petrosian's election campaign manager. The chief investigator in the case, Vahan Harutunian, said the evidence against the accused was extensive and prosecutors had interviewed more than 500 witnesses. "There is ample evidence to support the case, otherwise it would not have been sent to court," he said. "Even if they are politicians, they committed a crime, there is evidence of that and they are legally responsible. Everyone is equal before the law." But lawyer Hovik Arsenian, who represents Arzumanian and two other defendants, said the evidence against his clients was weak and he had no hope of getting an objective hearing. "This is an imitation of a court case," he said. "All of the so-called evidence in this case in fact proves the opposite - the innocence of my clients...it is obvious that this case has nothing to do with criminal justice." The defendants each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. More than 140 people were arrested following the violence and 52 have already been tried and received prison sentences of varying lengths. Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/access/al?rnd=%2BrBh76lPQUa%2FSGBtsqVyNA%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.
Wednesday December 17th, 2008 / 11h34
Wednesday December 17th, 2008 / 11h34
YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP)--Seven top Armenian opposition supporters, including an ex-foreign minister, will go on trial Friday on charges of seeking to overthrow the government in unrest this year that left 10 dead. Prosecutors allege former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanian, three members of parliament and two other government critics were seeking to "usurp state power" when they organized mass protests in February. Thousands of supporters of former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian rallied for 11 days to denounce President Serzh Sarkisian's victory in elections, before street battles broke out with riot police. Two police officers and eight civilians were killed in the clashes and dozens more were injured, many from gunshot wounds. Ter-Petrosian had finished second in the vote. Critics allege the prosecution is politically motivated and aimed at stamping out opposition to Sarkisian in the ex-Soviet republic. Arzumanian, Armenia's foreign minister from 1996 to 1998, was Ter-Petrosian's election campaign manager. The chief investigator in the case, Vahan Harutunian, said the evidence against the accused was extensive and prosecutors had interviewed more than 500 witnesses. "There is ample evidence to support the case, otherwise it would not have been sent to court," he said. "Even if they are politicians, they committed a crime, there is evidence of that and they are legally responsible. Everyone is equal before the law." But lawyer Hovik Arsenian, who represents Arzumanian and two other defendants, said the evidence against his clients was weak and he had no hope of getting an objective hearing. "This is an imitation of a court case," he said. "All of the so-called evidence in this case in fact proves the opposite - the innocence of my clients...it is obvious that this case has nothing to do with criminal justice." The defendants each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. More than 140 people were arrested following the violence and 52 have already been tried and received prison sentences of varying lengths. Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/access/al?rnd=%2BrBh76lPQUa%2FSGBtsqVyNA%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.
Wednesday December 17th, 2008 / 11h34
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Guardian (UK) reports:
Divisions deepen in Armenia as country braces for MPs' trial
• Seven accused of usurping state power at March rally• Police among 10 victims at 'vote-rigging' protest
Duncan Campbell in Yerevan
The Guardian, Monday 15 December 2008
Article history
Armenia is bracing itself for one of the biggest trials in its short history as an independent country, with a former foreign minister and three MPs among seven charged in connection with mass protests in which 10 people died.
The case this week against Alexander Arzoumanian, the former foreign minister, and six others charged with "usurpation of state power", is the culmination of a political storm that has engulfed the former Soviet republic since thousands took to the streets early this year against the disputed presidential election result.
"There is a real atmosphere of fear now," said Melissa Brown, the wife of Arzoumanian, who is in jail awaiting trial. "It is like Soviet times," she said during a protest in Yerevan, the capital.
Brown, from Philadelphia, met Arzoumanian when he was Armenia's UN ambassador in Washington. He later became the campaign manager for the opposition leader and former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who lost this year's election. The Arzoumanians' phones were tapped by police in the run-up to the elections and their conversations were published in the media and used to charge him with money-laundering.
"This is Watergate stuff," said Brown, who visits her husband twice a month in prison. "It is not about one candidate against another, it is about freedom and democracy."
Ter-Petrosyan's supporters, who blamed voting irregularities for the election of President Serzh Sargsyan, began protesting in Freedom Square in mid-February. By night, about 1,000 camped out in freezing temperatures. By day, crowds of up to 50,000 - estimates vary wildly - participated in rallies.
Tensions rose further during the last week of February, and on 1 March police entered the square, claiming they were searching for ammunition. There were running battles through the streets, culminating in the police opening fire, with each side claiming that the other launched the first missile. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed.
The killings sent shockwaves through the country and the government imposed strict media censorship for 20 days. While the government-sanctioned television stations continued to broadcast news, some newspapers ran blank pages until their publication was halted.
More than 70 protesters have already been jailed but it is the seven awaiting trial this week who face the main charges.
Sargsyan claimed 52.8% of the vote, enough to avoid the run-off that some international observers believe should have been held. The bloodshed has obscured argument over vote-rigging.
"To me, it was like the death of my country," said Karine Asatryan, editor of the A1+ website, which was closed down during the news blackout. "It is nine months now and we still don't know what happened, no one believes the police version of events. As for the trial, I am sure they will all be found guilty unless there is international pressure."
Gegham Vardanyan, a journalist with Internews, said that the issue of elections remained unresolved. "Armenia has never had fair elections, there has always been fraud, people don't believe you can change that." As for the court case, "it is a political trial and what happens in it will depend on the political process".
The police feel they have been unfairly portrayed in the media and that little sympathy was shown for the dead officers. "The coverage has been extremely negative, it has often added fuel to the fire," said Sayat Shirinyan, the chief police spokesman. "As for what happened, I can't provide a clear picture because there is a still an investigation to be completed. After it happened, many saw me as the embodiment of the whole situation. About half the country knows me [due to media appearances] and I experienced some very tense looks, but that has changed. There are still aftershocks but what happens in the future depends on the authorities."
Avetik Ishkhanyan, the chairman of the Helsinki committee of Armenia, a human rights body, said that the country faced many challenges. "Armenia is not totalitarian but it is not democratic," he said. "There is still limited freedom of expression. The television stations, both public and private, are under the control of the authorities."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/15/armenia-trial-protests-election-news
• Seven accused of usurping state power at March rally• Police among 10 victims at 'vote-rigging' protest
Duncan Campbell in Yerevan
The Guardian, Monday 15 December 2008
Article history
Armenia is bracing itself for one of the biggest trials in its short history as an independent country, with a former foreign minister and three MPs among seven charged in connection with mass protests in which 10 people died.
The case this week against Alexander Arzoumanian, the former foreign minister, and six others charged with "usurpation of state power", is the culmination of a political storm that has engulfed the former Soviet republic since thousands took to the streets early this year against the disputed presidential election result.
"There is a real atmosphere of fear now," said Melissa Brown, the wife of Arzoumanian, who is in jail awaiting trial. "It is like Soviet times," she said during a protest in Yerevan, the capital.
Brown, from Philadelphia, met Arzoumanian when he was Armenia's UN ambassador in Washington. He later became the campaign manager for the opposition leader and former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who lost this year's election. The Arzoumanians' phones were tapped by police in the run-up to the elections and their conversations were published in the media and used to charge him with money-laundering.
"This is Watergate stuff," said Brown, who visits her husband twice a month in prison. "It is not about one candidate against another, it is about freedom and democracy."
Ter-Petrosyan's supporters, who blamed voting irregularities for the election of President Serzh Sargsyan, began protesting in Freedom Square in mid-February. By night, about 1,000 camped out in freezing temperatures. By day, crowds of up to 50,000 - estimates vary wildly - participated in rallies.
Tensions rose further during the last week of February, and on 1 March police entered the square, claiming they were searching for ammunition. There were running battles through the streets, culminating in the police opening fire, with each side claiming that the other launched the first missile. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed.
The killings sent shockwaves through the country and the government imposed strict media censorship for 20 days. While the government-sanctioned television stations continued to broadcast news, some newspapers ran blank pages until their publication was halted.
More than 70 protesters have already been jailed but it is the seven awaiting trial this week who face the main charges.
Sargsyan claimed 52.8% of the vote, enough to avoid the run-off that some international observers believe should have been held. The bloodshed has obscured argument over vote-rigging.
"To me, it was like the death of my country," said Karine Asatryan, editor of the A1+ website, which was closed down during the news blackout. "It is nine months now and we still don't know what happened, no one believes the police version of events. As for the trial, I am sure they will all be found guilty unless there is international pressure."
Gegham Vardanyan, a journalist with Internews, said that the issue of elections remained unresolved. "Armenia has never had fair elections, there has always been fraud, people don't believe you can change that." As for the court case, "it is a political trial and what happens in it will depend on the political process".
The police feel they have been unfairly portrayed in the media and that little sympathy was shown for the dead officers. "The coverage has been extremely negative, it has often added fuel to the fire," said Sayat Shirinyan, the chief police spokesman. "As for what happened, I can't provide a clear picture because there is a still an investigation to be completed. After it happened, many saw me as the embodiment of the whole situation. About half the country knows me [due to media appearances] and I experienced some very tense looks, but that has changed. There are still aftershocks but what happens in the future depends on the authorities."
Avetik Ishkhanyan, the chairman of the Helsinki committee of Armenia, a human rights body, said that the country faced many challenges. "Armenia is not totalitarian but it is not democratic," he said. "There is still limited freedom of expression. The television stations, both public and private, are under the control of the authorities."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/15/armenia-trial-protests-election-news
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