Statement on Nikol Pashinian's Imprisonment.

On January 19, 2010 the editor-in-chief of “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily Nikol Pashinyan was

sentenced to 7 years in prison, a downright illegal court ruling by the common jurisdiction court

in Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts. The charge that Pashinyan

organized riots was in no way proven in the course of the trial. Moreover, it is clear the court has

singled out Pashinyan for excessive punishment. Of the seven other political prisoners,

opposition representatives sentenced before Pashinyan on the same charges, six were given

shorter terms and later released under the general amnesty.

The ruling against Nikol Pashinyan was a veiled act of political repression rather than a court

decision. Such a miscarriage of justice is a criminal act, and should be recognized as such.

It is the duty of the Armenian government to ensure a fair trial, which requires that it not put the

entirety of the blame for the events of March 1, 2008 on Nikol Pashinyan and other political

prisoners representing the opposition.

We demand the court cease its political and evidently illegal criminal prosecution against Nikol

Pashinyan immediately and that he be set free.

Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office

Transparency International Anti-corruption Center

Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Armenian Committee

Youth for Democracy

Center of Right and Freedom

Lawyers for Human Rights

National Citizens' Initiative

"Asparez" Journalists' Club