Published since 1951
Published on August 03, 2007
OFFICIAL DENIES POLITICAL REASONS FOR KEEPING EDITOR IN JAIL
- The head of a state commission empowered to parole convicts in Armenia on Friday flatly denied any political motives behind its refusal to free Arman Babajanian, the imprisoned editor of a pro-opposition newspaper. Hovannes Hunanian, who is also deputy chief of the Armenian police, argued that the commission has consistently blocked an early release from prison of all individuals convicted of draft evasion ever since it began its work in September last year. Babajanian was arrested in June 2006 and subsequently sentenced to three and a half years in prison for illegally avoiding compulsory military service. Last month, he served one third of the sentence and, in accordance with Armenian law, became eligible for parole. In an interview with RFE/RL on Wednesday, Babajanian claimed that the commission rejected his parole appeal at the behest of President Robert Kocharian. Hunanian dismissed the claim. “The commission has operated since September and during all this time it has considered dozens of cases of draft evasion applying for parole,” he told a news conference. “None of them has been set free by the commission.” “So I think Arman Babajanian should not have been an exception to that rule,” he said. The police general revealed that not all members of the body opposed Babajanian’s pre-term release. “Members of the commission disagreed on whether or not he should be freed,” he said. But most of them, he added, believe that draft evasion is a crime “dangerous for the public.” Babajanian, meanwhile, has asked a Yerevan court to overturn the parole rejection. He says Hunanian’s commission should not have decided his fate in the first place because it was formed by Kocharian after his arrest. (Photolur photo: Hovannes Hunanian.)
- By Karine Kalantarian
Headlines for August 03, 2007
ALIEV, KOCHARIAN ‘MAY MEET AGAIN THIS YEAR’
By Ruben Meloyan
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan may meet again this fall in yet another attempt to reach a framework peace agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh, a senior U.S. negotiator reportedly said in Baku on Friday. ...WESTERN BANKS UNVEIL ‘HISTORIC’ LENDING SCHEME FOR ARMENIA
By Anna SaghabalianThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and a leading U.S. financial services group unveiled on Friday a joint lending program for small and medium-sized Armenian companies seeking ...OFFICIAL DENIES POLITICAL REASONS FOR KEEPING EDITOR IN JAIL
By Karine KalantarianThe head of a state commission empowered to parole convicts in Armenia on Friday flatly denied any political motives behind its refusal to free Arman Babajanian, the imprisoned editor of a pro-opposition ...
Most read news (last 7 days)
WESTERN BANKS UNVEIL ‘HISTORIC’ LENDING SCHEME FOR ARMENIA
By Anna SaghabalianGOVERNMENT PRESSES FRAUD CASE AGAINST INDIAN-OWNED GOLD FIRM
By Emil DanielyanGERMAN MINING GIANT PLEDGES MORE INVESTMENTS
By Anna SaghabalianDASHNAKS TO FIELD OWN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
By Ruzanna KhachatrianSCIENTISTS URGE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP BOOSTING VITAL ARMENIAN LAKE
By Ruzanna Stepanian
BBG RENEWS CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE STATION IN ARMENIA; RFE/RL ARMENIAN SERVICE STILL OFF PUBLIC RADIO
HOVANNISIAN POISED FOR ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL BID
By Astghik BedevianFORMER ARMENIAN PRISON CHIEF ARRESTED FOR ‘KIDNAPPING’
By Emil Danielyan and Ruzanna StepanianU.S. OFFICIAL HAILS ARMENIAN POLL CONDUCT
By Anna SaghabalianARMENIANS ‘TOO SCARED TO TRUST POLICE’
By Ruzanna Stepanian
© AUA
Today in Armenian history- 1896 First general meeting of the Hnchak Party in London (England). The majority of western Armenian deputies leaves the Party and creates the "Reorganized Hnchak" Party.
- 1903 Demonstration in Yerevan against the law confiscating Church properties by the State (Russian Empire).
Forum most active discussions
ARMENIAN NEWS
INTERACTIVE NEWS
INFORMATION
MY ARMTOWN
How to quit smoking?
How to write in Armenian on Windows XP?
All materials published on this website are taken from open sources and are copyrighted by their respective owners. You cannot reproduce or copy any materials published on armtown.com without written consent of original copyright holder. If you want to remove any material, please send us an email with proof of ownership/copyright and your material will be removed immediately. All materials published for information purposes only.