European Forum

Armenian opposition leaders released

On 27 May the two most prominent members of the Armenian opposition remaining in prison have been set free in accordance with a general amnesty declared by the Armenian authorities. The Armenian parliament voted for an amnesty bill with 91 votes in favour and 1 abstained.

Nikol Pashinian, Armenian journalist and editor of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily, and Sasun Mikaelian, former Armenian parliamentarian, have been released as part of what many observers believe is a peace-making deal by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s government with ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian’s opposition Armenian National Congress coalition (HAK). Pashinian and Mikaelian, both prominent Ter-Petrosian backers, received a hero’s welcome from family members, friends and supporters as they walked out of different penitentiary institutions.

President Serzh Sargsyan’s amnesty order comes on the heels of a period focusing on an “open dialogue” with the opposition; a dialogue that has not yet formally begun. “If it’s really an honest dialogue, then I accept it,” Mikaelian said. Pashinian struck an even more defiant note as he emerged from a high-security prison near the northwestern Armenian town of Artik later, chanting “Struggle, struggle to the end,” Ter-Petrosian’s famous political slogan. He went on to call for Sarkisian’s resignation and said the HAK “will do everything” to achieve it.

Pashinian and Mikaelian were imprisoned for their alleged role in deadly clashes between police and protesters after Armenia’s 2008 presidential elections. Mikaelian insisted that he was “unjustly” sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of organizing what the Armenian authorities call “mass disturbances” and illegal arms possession. Pashinian was sentenced last year to seven years in prison for allegedly organizing the deadly unrest in the capital. He denied the accusations as politically motivated and charges were also rejected by the opposition and many human rights activists.

Sources: RFL/RL; Eurasianet; NewsAZ                         Photo: Flicker by Nir Nussbaum