Release of Nikol Pashinyan still uncertain
"Some tend to link the amnesty with the March 1, 2008 events. However, amnesty is a more comprehensive notion and aims to solve broader issues," Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan told journalists on May 25.
"The amnesty is aimed at defusing tension and creating an atmosphere of tolerance for the adherents of different political views. It aims to create an atmosphere in which a different approach to problems and their solution is not viewed as revulsion," he said.
Asked whether the amnesty will be applied on editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Nikol Pashinyan, who is imprisoned with respect to the March 1-2, 2008 events, the Minister said, "You have to see the provisions of the amnesty to find out whether the crime is included in the list or not. Amnesty is not applied for some grave crimes."
Regarding Serzh Sargsyan's proposal to grant pardon to Sasun Mikaelyan, Tovmasyan said, "This is an act of mercy which essentially differs from the amnesty. You can look at the text of the proposal and see if the provisions envisaging release comply with the article, under which he was convicted."
