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There Were No Political Prisoners in Armenia During Kocharian's
Presidency: Soghomonyan
06.03.2011 18:56
epress.am
`Granting amnesty is, of course, a humane step. Isn't it true that
released were not only those who are directly responsible for
organizing the mass unrest of Mar. 1, 2008, and for the death of 10
people? As for one of the underlying goals of the amnesty, mitigating
internal political tension, I can say that today it is difficult to
make forecasts concerning this, especially against the background of
the well-known statements made by the released oppositionists. I would
like to hope that the tension really will decline. Time will tell,'
said Viktor Soghomonyan, head of Robert Kocharian's office, in an
exclusive interview with Yerevan-based Mediamax news agency, in
response to the interviewer's comment that as a result of general
amnesty approved by parliament last week, a number of those convicted
in connection with the events of Mar. 1, 2008, in Yerevan were also
released.
`I was a bit concerned by another fact: a whole range of politicians
and media presented this amnesty as an `unprecedented event,' and the
release of political prisoners as `another step to overcome
Kocharian's heritage.' These statements amaze me.
`First of all, from the moment of gaining independence, our state has
announced amnesty a few times already (if I am not mistaken, this is
the seventh amnesty). Three amnesties were granted during Robert
Kocharian's presidency - in 1998, in 2001 and in 2006. So, of course,
there is nothing unprecedented here.
`As for `another step to overcome...,' I am forced to recall that
from1998-2007, there wasn't a single political prisoner in the
Republic of Armenia. This is a commonly known fact. The politicians,
who were released recently, had been convicted to various terms of
imprisonment after April, 2008. So, any `heritage' and especially
`overcoming it' is out of the question,' said Soghomonyan.
From: Baghdasarian
Presidency: Soghomonyan
06.03.2011 18:56
epress.am
`Granting amnesty is, of course, a humane step. Isn't it true that
released were not only those who are directly responsible for
organizing the mass unrest of Mar. 1, 2008, and for the death of 10
people? As for one of the underlying goals of the amnesty, mitigating
internal political tension, I can say that today it is difficult to
make forecasts concerning this, especially against the background of
the well-known statements made by the released oppositionists. I would
like to hope that the tension really will decline. Time will tell,'
said Viktor Soghomonyan, head of Robert Kocharian's office, in an
exclusive interview with Yerevan-based Mediamax news agency, in
response to the interviewer's comment that as a result of general
amnesty approved by parliament last week, a number of those convicted
in connection with the events of Mar. 1, 2008, in Yerevan were also
released.
`I was a bit concerned by another fact: a whole range of politicians
and media presented this amnesty as an `unprecedented event,' and the
release of political prisoners as `another step to overcome
Kocharian's heritage.' These statements amaze me.
`First of all, from the moment of gaining independence, our state has
announced amnesty a few times already (if I am not mistaken, this is
the seventh amnesty). Three amnesties were granted during Robert
Kocharian's presidency - in 1998, in 2001 and in 2006. So, of course,
there is nothing unprecedented here.
`As for `another step to overcome...,' I am forced to recall that
from1998-2007, there wasn't a single political prisoner in the
Republic of Armenia. This is a commonly known fact. The politicians,
who were released recently, had been convicted to various terms of
imprisonment after April, 2008. So, any `heritage' and especially
`overcoming it' is out of the question,' said Soghomonyan.
From: Baghdasarian