Prison administration gave negative testimonial on Hatspanian
Sarkis Hatspanian, a French national of Armenian descent, will not be released on parole, the Department of Penitentiaries at the RA Ministry of Justice said in a statement.
"Some media outlets have published reports about Hatspanian's alleged release. The administration of Vardashen penitentiary, where Hatspanian is serving his prison term, has given a negative testimonial on his conduct. The inmate has twice been subjected to disciplinary actions. It's noteworthy that he has breached the penitentiary charter and also incurred penalty after the National Assembly's pardon issued on June 19, 2009," reads the statement.
On April 9, 2009, Sarkis Hatspanian was sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment after being found guilty of "false denunciation" by the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court.
Sarkis Hatspanian was taken into custody after alleging, in a newspaper interview, a planned attempt on the life of President Serzh Sargsyan. He claimed that Sargsyan's predecessor, Robert Kocharian, would benefit from the success of the alleged murder plot.
Both Hatspanian and the main opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), have rejected the charge as politically motivated.
