Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

Who are these 400? There are not 400 people in jail for the protests that followed the February 2008 presidential election. Not 400, not even 40. I bet these 400 are actually mostly Sarkisian-supporting mafiosi criminals, or officials convicted of bribary and corruption, or police officers convicted of torturing or murdering suspects, or military officers convicted of murdering their conscripts.

Seems I was right - the amnesty covers officials convicted or accused of bribary and corruption (and most of them will be government supporters, though the one below wasn't).

Opposition MP's Brother Released
RFE/RL Rport 03.06.2011
Elina Chilingarian

The brother of Zaruhi Postanjian, a prominent Armenian opposition
parliamentarian, was set free on Friday after spending more than three
months in detention on corruption charges which the opposition
Zharangutyun (Heritage) party says are politically motivated.

Tigran Postanjian walked free during his trial at a district court in
Yerevan. The presiding judge, Artur Mkrtchian, said he qualifies for a
general amnesty declared by the Armenian authorities late last month.

Postanjian, who worked for the administration of Yerevan's Arabkir
district, was arrested in late February and charged with receiving
100,000 drams ($275) to turn a blind eye to illegal construction
carried out by a local resident. He has denied the accusations,
linking them with the political activities of his outspoken sister,
who is affiliated with Zharangutyun.

Zaruhi and her party have likewise accused the Armenian authorities of
fabricating the case to intimidate and silence her. Law-enforcement
authorities dismiss these claims.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

Armenia: Opposition Leader Offers Olive Branch to Government
June 1, 2011 - 3:45pm, by Mariann Grigoryan
Armenia EurasiaNet's Weekly Digest Armenian Politics
After more than three years of political strife, the Armenian government and the country’s main opposition coalition, the Armenian National Congress, appear ready to bury the hatchet.

At a May 31 rally in Yerevan, former President Levon Ter-Petrosian, leader of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) called “for a formal dialogue with authorities.” He added that the ANC would select a delegation “within the next few days” to conduct political talks with government representatives. The ANC is also planning to present a “dialogue agenda to authorities” that includes a call for early presidential and parliamentary elections, Ter-Petrosian said.

News of the ANC’s conciliatory steps followed the release of opposition activists Nikol Pashinian and Sasun Mikaelian. Both were imprisoned for their alleged role in the 2008 street violence that followed Armenia’s last presidential elections.

In a marked departure from his earlier portrayals of President Serzh Sargsyan’s administration as having stolen the 2008 election, Ter-Petrosian urged his supporters to give the government’s views a fair hearing. The pending political talks, he declared, do “not mean we should not take into consideration the agenda and counter-offers put forward by the government, otherwise the parity [between the ANC and government] will be violated.”

At a June 1 press briefing, Parliamentary Speaker Hovik Abrahamian welcomed Ter-Petrosian’s readiness for talks. “When the radical opposition addresses such a proposal to authorities, I think the president of the republic will take the initiative and organize this dialogue, which I believe will favor the interests of the Republic of Armenia and the people,” Abrahmian said.

Ter-Petroisian’s announcement disappointed some of his followers. Forty-three-year-old furniture-maker Vardan Ayvazian described himself as “deeply upset” by the decision on “laying down arms,” given Armenia’s severe problems with unemployment and labor migration.

“Did we strive for a dialogue in this format after so many years of struggle?” asked Ayvazian. “I had far more expectations; I thought I was fighting for great changes.”

Local analysts believe the ANC’s calls for dialogue and for early elections are aimed at maintaining voters’ trust. “This is a rational approach; Levon Ter-Petrosian understands that he cannot act differently,” said independent political analyst Yerevand xxxoian, noting that Armenians appeared to be increasingly fatigued with political rallies.

Signs of a thaw came fitfully, but consistently in recent months. As Ter-Petrosian toned down his anti-government rhetoric, officials started to make concessions, including a decision to permit opposition rallies in Yerevan’s Freedom Square, site of the 2008 clashes between police and protesters. Officials also announced a new investigation into the 2008 events and declared an amnesty that freed those described as political prisoners by the opposition.

Aiming to reassure his supporters that no back-room political bargain has already been fixed between the ANC leadership and the Sargsyan administration, Ter-Petrosian stressed that “a dialogue does not at all mean loving and hugging each other, or reviewing one’s opinion about the other party.”

Independent political analyst Suren Surenyants, a former senior Ter-Petrosian supporter, expressed hope that the dialogue would make Armenia’s political dynamic more evenly balanced, and lead, eventually, to fair elections. “[T]his dialogue will create a favorable situation for both parties in the future,” Surenyants claimed. “No changes can be expected without mutual concessions.”

But one non-ANC opposition politician, senior Heritage Party MP Armen Martirosian, voiced concern that the ANC might still abandon its political values in an effort to obtain a share of power.

“Since the parties are ready to make concessions, they will come to an agreement on other issues as well,” Martirosian said. xxxoian echoed that assessment. “[M]ost likely, the so-called dialogue refers not to early elections or to [addressing] people’s social problems, but rather to sharing power,” he asserted.

Editor's note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based in Yerevan and editor-in-chief of MediaLab.am.

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63597

[Mos]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

Mos jan, I remember seeing on Haylur how pashinyan was provoking the crowd to get their hands on anything they could to arm themselves for 'defence'. There was a construction site nearby he said that people could get stones and sticks from there to use against the police. This video was also on YouTube when I find it I'll post it.
In my opinion pashinyan should've gotten a death sentence by hanging.

Was he saying those stones and sticks to be picked up to attack the police as provocation or to defend themselves from police attacking? If the first thing than yes he should have been punished accordingly, if the second than not.

[Lernakan]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

I may be wrong but judging from the president's latest shrewd moves, could it be that by releasing these brainless people he attempts to diminish the significance of the so-called opposition in the eyes of the people supporting them?

This is what I thought as well. I don't believe in a deal between levon and president Serzh Sargsyan.

[Lernakan]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

Mos jan, I remember seeing on Haylur how pashinyan was provoking the crowd to get their hands on anything they could to arm themselves for 'defence'. There was a construction site nearby he said that people could get stones and sticks from there to use against the police. This video was also on YouTube when I find it I'll post it.
In my opinion pashinyan should've gotten a death sentence by hanging.

[Lucin]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

I may be wrong but judging from the president's latest shrewd moves, could it be that by releasing these brainless people he attempts to diminish the significance of the so-called opposition in the eyes of the people supporting them?

[Tigranakert]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

There are people to be punished as result of the March 1 events, no doubt about that, especially anybody that specifically gave orders for people to do what they did that day. That being said, just merely saying "we need a revolution" doesn't, in my view, warrant such punishment. Any idiot can say that they want a revolution, doesn't necessarily make them dangerous. The people that should be punished are the ones who specifically advocated revolution and followed through by specifically ordering violence and organising such an overthrow from the top. Now, I don't know much about what happened in the court rooms and what evidence was brought up, but all I'm saying is that there should be this clear distinction. Many of such activists just speak grand words, but do nothing about it.

That's also what I am stating.

In my view, with some of these "concessions" Serzh's favourability has gone up - which is good, because I don't want levon criminals retaking government and selling Artsakh to Turks than Armenia to the highest bidder.

Time will show us.

[Mos]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

I wasn't talking about the sheep (ordinary people) who joined the failed coupe detat. I am talking about those who are responsible for all of this, the Pashinyans, the organizers, who promoted a violent takeover and are the cause of the mass disorders, they shouldn't have been released.

Again, I was not only "talking", but as you can see, they used armed violence and bribery to overthrow a government. What happened was planned and a very sophisticated orchestra of events, also the timing of the generals, ministers and dozens of other people who "joined" the oppositions. It's clear for anyone that this was a failed coupe detat, and for this the heaviest punishment must be used. Again, in European countries they would have got life (at minimum, as they would have killed them anyway during the protests), and in America the death penalty for sure.

If in your "opinion" this was mere talking, than our opinions differ, simple as that.

There are people to be punished as result of the March 1 events, no doubt about that, especially anybody that specifically gave orders for people to do what they did that day. That being said, just merely saying "we need a revolution" doesn't, in my view, warrant such punishment. Any idiot can say that they want a revolution, doesn't necessarily make them dangerous. The people that should be punished are the ones who specifically advocated revolution and followed through by specifically ordering violence and organising such an overthrow from the top. Now, I don't know much about what happened in the court rooms and what evidence was brought up, but all I'm saying is that there should be this clear distinction. Many of such activists just speak grand words, but do nothing about it.

In my view, with some of these "concessions" Serzh's favourability has gone up - which is good, because I don't want levon criminals retaking government and selling Artsakh to Turks than Armenia to the highest bidder.

[Artsakh]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

The release of the "political prisoners" is a political move aimed at pleasing the international community, and I think the US in particular. It came after the US warned aid will be cut off to Armenia because it supposedly doesn't meet certain "democratic standards", in spite of the fact Armenia is the most democratic country in the caucasus (compared to Dictatorship in Azerbaijan and Sakashvillis regime in Georgia).

This is a response to that. I think a balancing act is essential. Russia has it's place and is a strategic partner, but it would be good not to turn a back on the US. Armenia has always thrived when it pursued a balanced foreign policy, dating back to the ages.

In any ways, I have always been against serj, but i am becoming his fan. not because of his pleasing the US and releasing of prisoners, but because of how he changed his stance on Armenian issues 100% towards the better after the failed protocols.

[Tigranakert]

Re: Pr. Sargsyan declares amnesty for Political Prisoners

I wasn't talking about the sheep (ordinary people) who joined the failed coupe detat. I am talking about those who are responsible for all of this, the Pashinyans, the organizers, who promoted a violent takeover and are the cause of the mass disorders, they shouldn't have been released.

Again, I was not only "talking", but as you can see, they used armed violence and bribery to overthrow a government. What happened was planned and a very sophisticated orchestra of events, also the timing of the generals, ministers and dozens of other people who "joined" the oppositions. It's clear for anyone that this was a failed coupe detat, and for this the heaviest punishment must be used. Again, in European countries they would have got life (at minimum, as they would have killed them anyway during the protests), and in America the death penalty for sure.

If in your "opinion" this was mere talking, than our opinions differ, simple as that.