In its Resolution 1620 (2008) on the implementation by Armenia of Assembly Resolution 1609 (2008), adopted on 25 June 2008, the Parliamentary Assembly considered that progress had been insufficient, despite the political will expressed by the Armenian authorities to address the requirements set up in Resolution 1609 (2008), adopted on 17 April 2008, following the crisis that ensued after the presidential election of February 2008.

The PACE delegates were rather calm when giving their evaluations of the situation in Armenia because they were misled, says Armenian National Congress representative Levon Zurabyan, who is currently in Strasbourg.

RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan sent a letter today to Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan referring to prisoner of the “Nubarashen” penitentiary Grigor Voskerchyan.

After the approval of yet another document on Armenia in the PACE, head of the Armenian delegation David Harutyunyan remarked that Armenia needs these kinds of discussions more than Europe.

Twenty eight people had registered to speak during the discussion on the fulfillment of Resolutions 1609 and 1620.

Swedish deputy Mrs. Purbey-Lundin expressed an opinion today that the Armenian authorities perceive any deadline granted by the PACE as a “cart-blanche”.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe did not suspend the Armenian delegation’s voting rights. According to parliamentarians, this decision was made in order to not interrupt the dialogue with Armenia. The Assembly approved the change to allot Armenia time until April.

The discussion on resolutions 1609 and 1620 began in Strasburg. Parliamentarians will express their opinions on the draft that was prepared by co-rapporteurs John Prescott and George Colombier. The draft of the resolution approved by the Monitoring Committee in Paris has been roughly facilitated. Attached to the document to be discussed are eight changes, particularly the proposal to omit the ninth...

Press secretariat of the Cassation Court informed today that the decision to keep Smbat Ayvazyan in jail remains unchanged.

People detained for their political viewpoints will be released after relevant amendments are introduced to the Armenian legislature.

PACE Co-rapporteurs on Armenia John Prescott and Georges Colombier have proposed PACE parliamentarians not to suspend the voting right of the Armenian delegation at this stage, viewing the recent initiatives of the Armenian authorities as an indication of their readiness to address the demands made by PACE in its Resolutions 1609 (2008) and 1620 (2008), reports the head of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly David Harutyunyan

The Committee for Political Prisoners has issued a letter today in which the Committee appeals to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to suspend Armenia’s voting rights at the PACE.

When addressing the Assembly parliamentarians member of the Azerbaijani delegation Guljatin Hajieva referred to the conduct of the 2008 Presidential election in Azerbaijan.

At the opening of its winter session in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) reelected Luís Maria de Puig (Spain, SOC) as its new President, according to the PACE Communication Unit.

“The regime uses its entire arsenal of tricks ranging from preposterous letters to shameless fraud to avoid the demand to immediately release the political prisoners and not to lose the voting right at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

A1+’s journalist Karine Asatryan was unable to get to Strasbourg because of a severe storm. She is presently on a train which has been unable to start for a few hours. The broken trees have blocked the way.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry has arrested Grigor Minasyan and Sargis Hakobjanyan. They are actively engaged in the cultural life of Akhaltskha town. Grigor Minasyan heads the “Armenian Youth Centre” and Grigor Minasyan - “Charles Aznavour” Charity Foundation.

A1+’s correspondent will detail the PACE winter session from Strasbourg next week.

It turns out Cheryomukha 7 over-sized, gas powered special device can be identified with its bullets.

“The Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the 47 PACE-member countries have never been in such a difficult situation,” told “A1+” head of the Armenian delegation to PACE from 1999-2003, former head of the foreign relations committee and current leader of the Armenian Liberal Party Hovhannes Hovhannisyan.

The trial of the “Mataghis” case continued today in the Northern Criminal Court without the attorney of culprits Razmik Sargsyan, Arayik Chalyan and Musa Serobyan.

The “Bjni” mineral water factory” CJSC condemns the violence committed against compulsory enforcement officer of the Kotayk Marz Hayk Babajanyan and express the hope that there will come a time when citizens of Armenia will be protected.

The “Cheryomukha-7” special device may turn into the most important device to truly “reveal” the March 1 case “planned” by the opposition.

Upon receiving information on the situation of NA Deputy Hakob Hakobyan from the press release submitted by Hakobyan’s attorney, RA Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan assigned head of the penitentiary to provide the deputy with sufficient medical care, including permission for his personal doctor to enter his cell and check him.