Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
January 25, 2009
Dear Delegates,
We are writing to you on behalf of the wives, mothers, and sisters of Armenia’s political prisoners and detainees in connection with the February 19, 2008 presidential election and its aftermath. On Tuesday, January 27, 2009 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is to consider the implementation by Armenia of Assembly Resolutions 1609 and 1620. We ask that you remember the victims of the continuing political repression in Armenia as you decide what course to take.
We commend the Monitoring Committee for its December 22, 2008 Draft Resolution, which recognizes that our loved ones are indeed political prisoners and that strong actions are necessary to bring the Armenian government into compliance with the requirements of the Council of Europe and its obligations to its own people.
Since the passage of Resolutions 1609 and 1620 and the December Draft Resolution, the authorities have failed to take meaningful steps that correspond to the promises they have made to you and to us. We know that you are well informed by the Armenian National Congress and others of recent developments in Armenia. Without repeating all that you have learned from them, we wish to confirm, from our personal experience, that political repression has only worsened recently. A number of political prisoners have been beaten and moved to more dangerous prison cells, in attempts to intimidate them and break their will. The trail of seven has been repeatedly postponed by the judge, denying detainees the right swift justice. Their relatives have been threatened and intimidated by scores of plainclothes policemen inside the courtroom. Outside the courtroom, peaceful supporters have been repeatedly been harassed and abused by an army of police and red berets. This is what we live through every day.
There have been many calls both here and abroad for a general amnesty for the political prisoners. The government response has been cynical and cruel. The authorities have launched a campaign of intimidation to persuade prisoners and those who have received suspended sentences to formally request pardon from Serzh Sargsyan; in exchange they must confess to crimes they did not commit and renounce further political activity. Several, under extreme duress, have succumbed. The vast majority have resisted and will continue to resist. On the evening of Saturday, January 24, well aware that Armenian newspapers do not publish on Sunday and Monday and so no public response would be possible before Tuesday, Serzh Sargsyan’s office announced the pardon of sixteen men convicted in connection with the March 1 events. None of these men, however, is on our list of political prisoners. They are not oppositionists, but rather hoodlums and petty criminals planted by the authorities among the crowd of peaceful protestors.
While granting these questionable pardons, government representatives have repeatedly suggested that no general amnesty is possible until the trial of seven has run its course. This argument is flawed legally, logically, and morally. There is no law that would prevent the immediate release of all political prisoners and detainees. In terms of logic, there are dozens of prisoners who have already been convicted on various charges solely on police testimony; their release should not be connected in any way to the trials that are ongoing. Morally, it is well known that the trial of seven could go on for years and years. These men have already spent nearly 11 months in jail, completely unjustly. To even suggest that they should remain in captivity at the mercy of the Armenian justice system for who knows how much longer is deeply wrong.
It is well known among the citizens of Armenia, and should be recognized by the PACE as well, that all government actions taken to deal with the situation thus far have been last-minute attempts to deceive, to save face, and to avoid for as long as possible the inevitable consequences of the campaign of political repression that began well before the election of February 2008. Similarly, the promised revision of Articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal Code, while welcome, is an act of desperation and deceit, rather than good will, and offers no real guarantee that justice will be done.
We don’t wish to see our country further estranged from European structures and values, but it is these very values of democracy, freedom, and human rights that our loved ones have been persecuted for espousing. Each additional day that the authorities are given to fulfill their obligations to the Council of Europe and to their own people is an additional day in Soviet-era prison cells for these men, bringing with it risks to their health and well-being, and physical, financial, and psychological hardship for their families.
We remind you that the members of the Armenian delegation to the PACE are part of the system that has allowed and encouraged the unraveling of democracy to take place. While they may be men of good will individually, they are under tremendous pressure to serve the interests of an unjust and illegitimate regime. We ask you to remember our families, and our children in particular, as you make your decision on Tuesday.
Respectfully yours,
The Wives of Armenia’s Political Prisoners Coordinating Group
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
Armenialiberty reports on third day of trial
Armenian ‘Coup’ Trial Again Adjourned
By Astghik Bedevian and Ruben MeloyanUnder Armenia’s laws regulating court hearings, trial participants must stand up when judges make their way into the courtroom. The seven oppositionists tried for attempting to “usurp state authority” and organizing mass riots after last February’s presidential election refuse to comply with this requirement in protest against what they see as a politically motivated case. The defendants, among them former Foreign Minister Aleksandr Arzumanian and three parliament deputies, remained demonstratively seated at the start of the third court hearing on the high-profile case on Saturday. The judge, Mnatsakan Martirosian, again construed this as a contempt of court and adjourned proceedings until January 9 moments later. “We won’t stand up no matter how many times you have us taken away,” Arzumanian told the judge. He also demanded that Martirosian address him as “Mr. Arzumanian,” rather than “defendant Arzumanian.” “We consider this trial illegal and won’t stand up because right from the beginning the judge has neglected our rights,” said another defendant, parliament deputy Miasnik Malkhasian. He suggested sarcastically that President Serzh Sarkisian cut short the trial with a decree setting punishment for each of the defendants. Armen Harutiunian, the state human rights defender personally monitoring the trial, discussed the situation with Martirosian afterwards. He said he will meet other judicial experts to discuss possible ways of resuming the trial that would satisfy both sides. “Because the Judicial Code requires [defendants] to stand up he can not start hearings after being treated disrespectfully,” Harutiunian told reporters. “We are in a kind of deadlock. To me the positions of both the judge and the defendants are acceptable.” Although the courtroom was mostly empty on Saturday, journalists and photographers were again barred from entering it and had to follow proceedings from monitors placed in an adjacent room. Court officials refused to explain the ban which Harutiunian condemned as “unacceptable.” Journalists were similarly barred from the courtroom during the previous court hearing held on December 23. It was marred by bitter verbal exchanges between defendants’ relatives and plainclothes police officers brought into the courtroom. Most of those relatives boycotted Saturday’s hearing at the urging of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK). The opposition alliance claimed last week that the Armenian authorities need an excuse to hold the trial behind the closed door and are planning to provoke more ugly scenes in the court for that purpose. In a related development, a group of civil rights activists monitoring conditions in Armenia’s prisons has backed opposition claims that another defendant, Grigor Voskerchian, and at least two other oppositionists kept in Yerevan’s Nubarashen prison were beaten up on December 23. A member of the group, Artur Sakunts, told RFE/RL that it submitted a corresponding report to Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian on December 25. He said Danielian forwarded the report to the Office of the Prosecutor-General. Also last week, President Serzh Sarkisian ordered Danielian to investigate the torture allegations. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry department managing the Armenian prisons said on Monday that the inquiry is still in progress. The department strongly denies the allegations. According to its version of events, the department’s “rapid reaction” unit met with fierce resistance from some Nubarashen inmates as it conducted regular searches in the prison on December 23. It says the unit had to use force against those prisoners that seriously injured its commander. (Photolur photo)
http://armenialiberty.am/armeniareport/report/en/2008/12/D91AB319-381A-41FA-9739-323AFC2F4257.ASP
By Astghik Bedevian and Ruben MeloyanUnder Armenia’s laws regulating court hearings, trial participants must stand up when judges make their way into the courtroom. The seven oppositionists tried for attempting to “usurp state authority” and organizing mass riots after last February’s presidential election refuse to comply with this requirement in protest against what they see as a politically motivated case. The defendants, among them former Foreign Minister Aleksandr Arzumanian and three parliament deputies, remained demonstratively seated at the start of the third court hearing on the high-profile case on Saturday. The judge, Mnatsakan Martirosian, again construed this as a contempt of court and adjourned proceedings until January 9 moments later. “We won’t stand up no matter how many times you have us taken away,” Arzumanian told the judge. He also demanded that Martirosian address him as “Mr. Arzumanian,” rather than “defendant Arzumanian.” “We consider this trial illegal and won’t stand up because right from the beginning the judge has neglected our rights,” said another defendant, parliament deputy Miasnik Malkhasian. He suggested sarcastically that President Serzh Sarkisian cut short the trial with a decree setting punishment for each of the defendants. Armen Harutiunian, the state human rights defender personally monitoring the trial, discussed the situation with Martirosian afterwards. He said he will meet other judicial experts to discuss possible ways of resuming the trial that would satisfy both sides. “Because the Judicial Code requires [defendants] to stand up he can not start hearings after being treated disrespectfully,” Harutiunian told reporters. “We are in a kind of deadlock. To me the positions of both the judge and the defendants are acceptable.” Although the courtroom was mostly empty on Saturday, journalists and photographers were again barred from entering it and had to follow proceedings from monitors placed in an adjacent room. Court officials refused to explain the ban which Harutiunian condemned as “unacceptable.” Journalists were similarly barred from the courtroom during the previous court hearing held on December 23. It was marred by bitter verbal exchanges between defendants’ relatives and plainclothes police officers brought into the courtroom. Most of those relatives boycotted Saturday’s hearing at the urging of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK). The opposition alliance claimed last week that the Armenian authorities need an excuse to hold the trial behind the closed door and are planning to provoke more ugly scenes in the court for that purpose. In a related development, a group of civil rights activists monitoring conditions in Armenia’s prisons has backed opposition claims that another defendant, Grigor Voskerchian, and at least two other oppositionists kept in Yerevan’s Nubarashen prison were beaten up on December 23. A member of the group, Artur Sakunts, told RFE/RL that it submitted a corresponding report to Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian on December 25. He said Danielian forwarded the report to the Office of the Prosecutor-General. Also last week, President Serzh Sarkisian ordered Danielian to investigate the torture allegations. A spokesman for the Justice Ministry department managing the Armenian prisons said on Monday that the inquiry is still in progress. The department strongly denies the allegations. According to its version of events, the department’s “rapid reaction” unit met with fierce resistance from some Nubarashen inmates as it conducted regular searches in the prison on December 23. It says the unit had to use force against those prisoners that seriously injured its commander. (Photolur photo)
http://armenialiberty.am/armeniareport/report/en/2008/12/D91AB319-381A-41FA-9739-323AFC2F4257.ASP
Thursday, December 25, 2008
December 23 in court
If you've been following the news you know that defendant Grigor Voskerchyan was attacked in his cell the morning of the trial, and that by about 10:30 the courtroom had been filled with "agents"-- plain-clothes policemen and the like, and so the families of the seven had trouble getting in. A few members of each family did manage to get in, after Armen Harutyunyan and others yielded their seats, but most remained outside, along with Hrant Bagratyan, Levon Zurabyan, other politicians and friends, assorted monitors, and others. Inside, no business got done; the judge permitted no one (but himself) to speak; and the trial was adjourned till December 27 (presumably, although what the judge actually said was "October 27"). For news in English see a1plus.am or lragir.am. A1plus has video as well. Particularly moving and impressive is the clip of Gor Kloyan's father.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
From RFE/RL
Seven Prominent Armenian Oppositionists On Trial
Opposition supporters rally in Yerevan in April
December 19, 2008
By Liz Fuller
Seven prominent opposition figures are set to go on trial in Yerevan on charges of seeking to overthrow the government. The men were taken into custody in the wake of violent clashes between security forces and supporters of former President and opposition presidential candidate Levon Ter-Pertrossian in March.For many in Armenia, the charges are regarded as unsubstantiated, even risible, while parallel investigations into the events that culminated in the violence continue.Immediately after Armenia's Central Election Commission announced early on February 20 that Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian won the previous day's presidential ballot with over 52 percent of the vote, supporters of Ter-Petrossian, who according to official returns placed second with 21.5 percent, congregated in Yerevan's Freedom Square to protest the perceived rigging of the outcome. Ter-Petrossian himself claimed to have polled no less than 65 percent. Violent ProtestsThe protests continued well into the early morning hours of March 1, when police moved in to disperse the participants by force. When they reassembled on the evening of the same day, the tensions escalated into open violence, with individual protesters attacking police and security forces, who in turn opened fire. Eight people were killed in the clashes, including two police officers; two more died later of their injuries.Outgoing President Robert Kocharian imposed a 20-day state of emergency and laid the blame for the violence squarely on Ter-Petrossian, whom Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian subsequently accused of employing mass hypnosis on the demonstrators.Even before the violence of March 1-2, police had set about rounding up prominent members of Ter-Petrossian's campaign staff. The detainees included opposition Hanrapetutiun party member Suren Sureniants, who was arrested on February 25 and spent two months in pretrial custody before a group of mostly pro-government legislators signed a petition calling for his release. The charges against him, which included inciting mass riots and attempting to seize power, were quietly dropped in June due to lack of evidence, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported on June 13.
Eyewitness Recounts March CrackdownLess fortunate was Harutiun Urutian, who headed Ter-Petrossian's campaign in the northern Shirak region. He was sentenced in April to seven years in prison (later reduced on appeal to six years) on charges, which he claimed were politically motivated, of assaulting a member of Sarkisian's campaign staff on polling day. Another Ter-Petrossian campaign official, Hovannes Harutiunian, was sentenced in April to 18 months' imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition. Petros Makeyan, head of the small Democratic Fatherland Party, and Ashot Zakarian, head of the Giumri chapter of the Yerkrapah Union of Veterans of the Karabakh War, were jailed for three and 2 1/2 years, respectively, in June for obstructing the work of election precinct officials on February 19.In all, more than 100 people were taken into custody either in the week leading up to March 1-2 or immediately after the violence. Ter-Petrossian's camp argues that at least 70 of them should be designated political prisoners. As of mid-October, 43 had been tried and sentenced to prison terms, 37 received suspended sentences, and five were acquitted, according to a Prosecutor-General's Office spokesperson quoted by Noyan Tapan. Jail TermsSince mid-October, two more prominent Ter-Petrossian loyalists have been sentenced to jail terms. Former senior Interior Ministry official Mushegh Saghatelian was jailed for five years on October 23, and former Minister of State Revenues and Hanrapetutiun party member Sambat Ayvazian for two years on November 19, both on charges of violently resisting police. Ayvazian's conviction was based solely on police testimony, as was that of 19 of those sentenced earlier. In a statement dated October 2, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) condemned that practice as "unacceptable." The trial opened on September 1 and is still ongoing of former Deputy Prosecutor-General Gagik Djahangirian, who publicly affirmed his support for Ter-Petrossian at a postelection rally on February 22. Djahangirian suffered what was termed an "accidental" gunshot wound when police stopped his car on the outskirts of Yerevan the following evening and arrested him. He too is charged with seeking the violent overthrow of the incumbent regime. The opposition newspaper "Chorrord ishkhanutiun" commented on December 12 that the authorities have taken a "differentiated" approach to those arrested in connection with the postelection protests and are acting more harshly against people who were not in opposition prior to the 2008 presidential election race.
Supporters of Ter-Petrossian claimed their candidate had won the electionThe paper suggests Kocharian and Sarkisian cannot forgive the latter for aligning with Ter-Petrossian and thereby "dealing a serious blow to the ruling regime."International CriticismThe Armenian government initially remained impervious to repeated criticism from international organizations, first of the conduct of the February 19 ballot, then of the March 1-2 violence, and finally of the court proceedings against Ter-Petrossian supporters. But in mid-June, the Armenian parliament established an ad hoc commission tasked with investigating the March 1-2 violence. It was initially envisaged that the commission would present its findings by October 25. On October 13, however, its members formally asked the parliament to extend that deadline for two months in order to enable them to incorporate the findings of a smaller, more independent fact-finding group established in July under pressure from the PACE. Ter-Petrossian declined to nominate a representative to the parliamentary commission, but his Armenian National Congress is represented on the independent body.In its October 2 statement, PACE registered alarm and concern at the situation of those people still held in pretrial detention and the "excessive length of the investigation," and urged that they be brought to trial promptly. It also voiced doubts that some of those already sentenced had received a fair trial, suggesting that at least some were "convicted based on political beliefs and nonviolent activities," and expressed "regrets that the Armenian authorities did not consider the possibility of amnesty or pardons."The seven men whose trial begins on December 19 are Aleksandr Arzumanian, who served under Ter-Petrossian as foreign minister and headed his campaign staff; former pro-government parliament members Miasnik Malkhasian and Hakob Hakobian; Sasun Mikayelian; Suren Sirunian; Shant Haroutiunian; and Grigor Voskerchian. All seven insist they are innocent of the charges against them, which they consider politically motivated.PACE Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg observed on a visit to Yerevan last month that "I have not so far seen any strong evidence which would make it possible for an independent court to sentence these seven persons for attempting to change power in this country with violence."The imminent trial of the seven was one of the topics that Sarkisian discussed on December 16 with visiting OSCE Secretary-General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. Also on December 16, parliament member Artsvik Minasian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun, which is part of the ruling four-party coalition, told journalists that Sarkisian may declare a general amnesty for all those sentenced to date, whether or not they pled guilty. Such a gesture might defuse simmering tensions, and preclude the possibility of new violent protests if the seven receive draconian sentences.On December 5, three men sentenced to jail terms ranging from three to 3 1/2 years for their participation in the March clashes were formally pardoned by Sarkisian after admitting their guilt, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported on December 8. And on December 17, it was announced that coup charges similar to those faced by the "seven" brought against four other prominent oppositionists -- former Prime Minister Aram Sarkisian (no relation to Serzh); Ararat Zurabian, and Karapet Rubinian, both prominent members of Ter-Petrossian's Armenian Pan-National Movement; and former deputy National Security Service head Gurgen Yeghiazarian -- have been dropped for lack of evidence. Aram Sarkisian was never taken into custody, and the other three were released from detention several months ago.
http://www.rferl.org/Content/Seven_Prominent_Armenian_Oppositionists_On_Trial_/1361523.html
Opposition supporters rally in Yerevan in April
December 19, 2008
By Liz Fuller
Seven prominent opposition figures are set to go on trial in Yerevan on charges of seeking to overthrow the government. The men were taken into custody in the wake of violent clashes between security forces and supporters of former President and opposition presidential candidate Levon Ter-Pertrossian in March.For many in Armenia, the charges are regarded as unsubstantiated, even risible, while parallel investigations into the events that culminated in the violence continue.Immediately after Armenia's Central Election Commission announced early on February 20 that Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian won the previous day's presidential ballot with over 52 percent of the vote, supporters of Ter-Petrossian, who according to official returns placed second with 21.5 percent, congregated in Yerevan's Freedom Square to protest the perceived rigging of the outcome. Ter-Petrossian himself claimed to have polled no less than 65 percent. Violent ProtestsThe protests continued well into the early morning hours of March 1, when police moved in to disperse the participants by force. When they reassembled on the evening of the same day, the tensions escalated into open violence, with individual protesters attacking police and security forces, who in turn opened fire. Eight people were killed in the clashes, including two police officers; two more died later of their injuries.Outgoing President Robert Kocharian imposed a 20-day state of emergency and laid the blame for the violence squarely on Ter-Petrossian, whom Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian subsequently accused of employing mass hypnosis on the demonstrators.Even before the violence of March 1-2, police had set about rounding up prominent members of Ter-Petrossian's campaign staff. The detainees included opposition Hanrapetutiun party member Suren Sureniants, who was arrested on February 25 and spent two months in pretrial custody before a group of mostly pro-government legislators signed a petition calling for his release. The charges against him, which included inciting mass riots and attempting to seize power, were quietly dropped in June due to lack of evidence, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported on June 13.
Eyewitness Recounts March CrackdownLess fortunate was Harutiun Urutian, who headed Ter-Petrossian's campaign in the northern Shirak region. He was sentenced in April to seven years in prison (later reduced on appeal to six years) on charges, which he claimed were politically motivated, of assaulting a member of Sarkisian's campaign staff on polling day. Another Ter-Petrossian campaign official, Hovannes Harutiunian, was sentenced in April to 18 months' imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition. Petros Makeyan, head of the small Democratic Fatherland Party, and Ashot Zakarian, head of the Giumri chapter of the Yerkrapah Union of Veterans of the Karabakh War, were jailed for three and 2 1/2 years, respectively, in June for obstructing the work of election precinct officials on February 19.In all, more than 100 people were taken into custody either in the week leading up to March 1-2 or immediately after the violence. Ter-Petrossian's camp argues that at least 70 of them should be designated political prisoners. As of mid-October, 43 had been tried and sentenced to prison terms, 37 received suspended sentences, and five were acquitted, according to a Prosecutor-General's Office spokesperson quoted by Noyan Tapan. Jail TermsSince mid-October, two more prominent Ter-Petrossian loyalists have been sentenced to jail terms. Former senior Interior Ministry official Mushegh Saghatelian was jailed for five years on October 23, and former Minister of State Revenues and Hanrapetutiun party member Sambat Ayvazian for two years on November 19, both on charges of violently resisting police. Ayvazian's conviction was based solely on police testimony, as was that of 19 of those sentenced earlier. In a statement dated October 2, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) condemned that practice as "unacceptable." The trial opened on September 1 and is still ongoing of former Deputy Prosecutor-General Gagik Djahangirian, who publicly affirmed his support for Ter-Petrossian at a postelection rally on February 22. Djahangirian suffered what was termed an "accidental" gunshot wound when police stopped his car on the outskirts of Yerevan the following evening and arrested him. He too is charged with seeking the violent overthrow of the incumbent regime. The opposition newspaper "Chorrord ishkhanutiun" commented on December 12 that the authorities have taken a "differentiated" approach to those arrested in connection with the postelection protests and are acting more harshly against people who were not in opposition prior to the 2008 presidential election race.
Supporters of Ter-Petrossian claimed their candidate had won the electionThe paper suggests Kocharian and Sarkisian cannot forgive the latter for aligning with Ter-Petrossian and thereby "dealing a serious blow to the ruling regime."International CriticismThe Armenian government initially remained impervious to repeated criticism from international organizations, first of the conduct of the February 19 ballot, then of the March 1-2 violence, and finally of the court proceedings against Ter-Petrossian supporters. But in mid-June, the Armenian parliament established an ad hoc commission tasked with investigating the March 1-2 violence. It was initially envisaged that the commission would present its findings by October 25. On October 13, however, its members formally asked the parliament to extend that deadline for two months in order to enable them to incorporate the findings of a smaller, more independent fact-finding group established in July under pressure from the PACE. Ter-Petrossian declined to nominate a representative to the parliamentary commission, but his Armenian National Congress is represented on the independent body.In its October 2 statement, PACE registered alarm and concern at the situation of those people still held in pretrial detention and the "excessive length of the investigation," and urged that they be brought to trial promptly. It also voiced doubts that some of those already sentenced had received a fair trial, suggesting that at least some were "convicted based on political beliefs and nonviolent activities," and expressed "regrets that the Armenian authorities did not consider the possibility of amnesty or pardons."The seven men whose trial begins on December 19 are Aleksandr Arzumanian, who served under Ter-Petrossian as foreign minister and headed his campaign staff; former pro-government parliament members Miasnik Malkhasian and Hakob Hakobian; Sasun Mikayelian; Suren Sirunian; Shant Haroutiunian; and Grigor Voskerchian. All seven insist they are innocent of the charges against them, which they consider politically motivated.PACE Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg observed on a visit to Yerevan last month that "I have not so far seen any strong evidence which would make it possible for an independent court to sentence these seven persons for attempting to change power in this country with violence."The imminent trial of the seven was one of the topics that Sarkisian discussed on December 16 with visiting OSCE Secretary-General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. Also on December 16, parliament member Artsvik Minasian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun, which is part of the ruling four-party coalition, told journalists that Sarkisian may declare a general amnesty for all those sentenced to date, whether or not they pled guilty. Such a gesture might defuse simmering tensions, and preclude the possibility of new violent protests if the seven receive draconian sentences.On December 5, three men sentenced to jail terms ranging from three to 3 1/2 years for their participation in the March clashes were formally pardoned by Sarkisian after admitting their guilt, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported on December 8. And on December 17, it was announced that coup charges similar to those faced by the "seven" brought against four other prominent oppositionists -- former Prime Minister Aram Sarkisian (no relation to Serzh); Ararat Zurabian, and Karapet Rubinian, both prominent members of Ter-Petrossian's Armenian Pan-National Movement; and former deputy National Security Service head Gurgen Yeghiazarian -- have been dropped for lack of evidence. Aram Sarkisian was never taken into custody, and the other three were released from detention several months ago.
http://www.rferl.org/Content/Seven_Prominent_Armenian_Oppositionists_On_Trial_/1361523.html
The BBC reports:
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
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
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
The New York Times (Reuters)
World Briefing Europe
Armenia: Former Official Goes on Trial
By REUTERS
Published: December 19, 2008
A former Armenian foreign minister and six other opposition figures went on trial in the capital, Yerevan, on Friday on charges of seeking to overthrow the government during protests in March. Ten people died when protests against the results of presidential elections turned violent. The opposition says that the trial of the former foreign minister, Alexander Arzumanyan, and his co-defendants is politically motivated and that the government has done little to investigate allegations of police culpability.
new_york_times:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/world/europe/20briefs-FORMEROFFICI_BRF.html
Armenia: Former Official Goes on Trial
By REUTERS
Published: December 19, 2008
A former Armenian foreign minister and six other opposition figures went on trial in the capital, Yerevan, on Friday on charges of seeking to overthrow the government during protests in March. Ten people died when protests against the results of presidential elections turned violent. The opposition says that the trial of the former foreign minister, Alexander Arzumanyan, and his co-defendants is politically motivated and that the government has done little to investigate allegations of police culpability.
new_york_times:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/world/europe/20briefs-FORMEROFFICI_BRF.html
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