The president pardons nine more convicts in March 1 cases

by Armen Hakobyan

Published: Saturday January 17, 2009

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Yerevan - On January 12, it became known that President Serge Sargsian had signed a decree pardoning nine people convicted in connection with the events of March 1-2.

The nine men, Yeghishe Grigoryan, Karen Tarkhanyan, Avedit Ghrejyan, Karlen Manucharyan, Armen Movsisian, Harutyun Mgrchian, Norik Harutyunyan, Sarkis Barunakyan and Raju Petrossian were accused of participating in mass unrest, acquiring, transporting, and carrying illegal guns, ammunition, and explosive devices with the intention of using them against representatives of the authorities and had been sentenced to between 2 and 4 years in prison.

According to the president's office, the decision to sign the decree to pardon the men was motivated by family and health reasons. The Armenian Reporter was able to find out that this decree was actually signed by the president on December 29.

The delay in publicly announcing the pardon has given the opposition, especially supporters of former President Levon Ter-Petrossian, the opportunity to proclaim that President Sargsian's pardon was only to impress PACE co-rapporteurs John Prescott and George Columbier and to alleviate the criticisms being directed against Armenia.

Levon Zurabyan, coordinator of the opposition Armenian National Congress on January 13 announced that the pardon was used as a veil by the authorities while the opposition's dedicated supporters are adamant and prefer to stay in prison as opposed to requesting a pardon.

Four of the nine men, Yeghishe Grigoryan, Karlen Manucharyan, Harutyun Mgrchian and Armen Movsisian, were convicted of directly participating in the mass unrest; however they were given suspended sentences from two years and 10 months to 3.5 years. While these men were never incarcerated, with this pardon, the suspended sentences were removed from their records.

Karen Tarkhanian was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for organizing mass unrest; Avetik Ghrejyan, sentenced to two years for having an illegal weapon; Norik Harutyunyan, sentenced to two years for taking part in mass unrest; Sarkis Barunakyan and Raju Petrossian were respectively sentenced to 1.5 and 2.5 years for battery against a police officer.

On December 3, 2008, President Serge Sargsian had also pardoned Edward Ashugyan, Arman Margaryan and Artur Nazanyan, three men who had also been convicted in connection to the events of March 1.