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Armenian opposition criticizes criminal investigation

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  • Armenian opposition criticizes criminal investigation

    Associated Press Worldstream
    April 1, 2004 Thursday 3:42 PM Eastern Time

    Armenian opposition criticizes criminal investigation

    YEREVAN, Armenia

    The leader of Armenia's chief opposition group criticized the
    authorities for opening a criminal investigation into its activities,
    saying Thursday that the move would heighten tension in the former
    Soviet republic.

    The prosecutor general's office opened an investigation into the
    opposition bloc Justice on Wednesday, accusing its members of public
    calls for a change in government and insulting public officials.

    Justice leader Stepan Demirchian called the criminal case "the latest
    provocation by the authorities" in the Caucasus Mountain nation and
    said it marked the beginning of "unprecedented political persecution
    of the opposition."

    The prosecutors' announcement came amid opposition plans for a major
    protest within the coming weeks against President Robert Kocharian
    and the government. Opposition leaders have said they would not
    resort to violence.

    Kocharian won a second term in presidential elections a year ago that
    sparked mass protests, including nearly daily demonstrations between
    the first round of voting in February 2003 and the runoff in March.
    The opposition alleged widespread violations in both rounds of the
    election.

    Last April, Armenia's Constitutional Court confirmed the results of
    the presidential vote but suggested that a referendum be held within
    a year to gauge the public's confidence in the nation's leaders.
    Opposition leaders have pressed for the plebiscite.
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