Three opposition supporters imprisoned for their participation in
post-election anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan have been pardoned by
President Serzh Sarkisian and set free after confessing to controversial
accusations leveled against them.



Eduard Ashughian, Arman Markarian and Artur Nazanian were among more than 100
supporters and associates of opposition Levon Ter-Petrosian arrested in the wake
of last February’s disputed presidential election. They were subsequently
sentenced to between three and three-and-a-half years in prison for taking part
in “mass disturbances” and resisting police officers. The charges stemmed from
the March 1 deadly clashes in Yerevan between security forces and thousands of
opposition protesters.



Arsen Babayan, a spokesman for a Justice Ministry department managing Armenia’s
prison, told RFE/RL on Monday that the three men were let go on Friday after
admitting their guilt and asking Sarkisian for an amnesty.



Sarkisian’s press secretary, Samvel Farmanian, said the president granted the
requests because of their repentance, lack of prior criminal records and “family
circumstances.” “The president of the republic has always been ready to consider
amnesty requests,” he said in a statement.



In an interview with RFE/RL, Ashughian said he was offered to appeal to
Sarkisian last week by the chief of Yerevan’s Nubarashen prison where he was
serving a three-year prison sentence. He said although he accepted his guilt in
a letter to the president he will continue to participate in rallies staged by
the Ter-Petrosian-led opposition.



Ashughian already pleaded guilty to the accusations brought against him during
his trial earlier this year. He said on Monday that he did so in the hope of
avoiding imprisonment. “I confessed on the first day [of the trial,]” he said.
“But they fooled me, so to speak. The investigator had told me that I won’t go
to prison if I plead guilty.”



Meanwhile, Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (HAK) compared Sarkisian’s
actions to “the Soviet totalitarian regime’s behavior” and accused the
authorities of exploiting the plight of opposition detainees. In a weekend
statement, the HAK claimed that government “emissaries” have been visiting many
“political prisoners” and trying to convince them to renounce further political
activities in exchange for freedom. The opposition alliance said the Sarkisian
administration is thereby trying to prevent the Council of Europe from imposing
sanctions against Armenia.



The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has given Yerevan until
next January to free individuals jailed on “seemingly artificial or politically
motivated charges” or face embarrassing sanctions. Visiting Yerevan last month,
Thomas Hammarberg, the Strasbourg-based organization’s human rights
commissioner, said the Armenian government has still not complied with relevant
provisions of the PACE’s April and June resolutions on Armenia.



The authorities have so far left no indications that they are ready to release
most of some 70 oppositionists remaining in prison. They are currently pressing
ahead with preparations for the collective trial of seven of the most prominent
detainees, including three parliament deputies and Ter-Petrosian’s election
campaign manager. They stand accused of organizing the March 1 riots as part of
Ter-Petrosian’s alleged coup plot. The opposition strongly denies the government
claims.