Ombudsman was the first to react
During yesterday's festivities at the Memorial of Sardarapat President Serzh Sargsyan announced: "If the idea and the necessity of a new amnesty have matured among our society over the past three years, then I'm really ready to use my constitutional right. Therefore, I call on all political forces, public figures, the Public Council to present their suggestions regarding the necessity and conditions of the amnesty to the President's Office, and if it turns out that the society really wants me to grant general pardon, I will immediately use my constitutional right and apply to the National Assembly."
Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian was the first to react to the President's announcement. "Being familiarized with the sphere of human rights and its problems I think the need for an amnesty has already matured. An amnesty is necessary to restore public tolerance and solidarity. Hence, I suggest the President to come up with an initiative of granting an amnesty. I also call on all political forces, public figures, the Public Council to avail this unique opportunity and to request the RoA President to use his constitutional right."
