Tomorrow PACE will pass a resolution on Armenian issues where the Armenian Government is demanded to grant a broadcasting license to A1+ without further delay.

Kiro Manoyan, Head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun office of Hay Dat and Political Affairs, thinks that no progress will be made toward the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict before the Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan and the United States are over. He believes the sides will wish to continue the discussions in any case, as the negotiations will put an end to the militaristic statements of Azerbaijan.

Hovik Arsenian and Vardan Zurnachian, defenders of Commander of Masis battalion and former head of the RA Security Services Husik Baghdasarian, have appealed to the Court of Cassation. Husik Baghdasarian was found guilty under Article 235 /carrying illegal weapons/ and was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment.

Vardan Jhangirian’s trial had to be postponed today. Judge of the Criminal Court Mnatsakan Martirossian had to make such a decision as the witnesses did not appear in the court for some unknown reasons.

“The PACE assessment cannot change much in the present situation in Armenia,” considers Arthur Sakunts, Head of the Vanadzor office of Helsinki Civil Assembly. Sakunts believes that at the PACE session tomorrow the Armenian authorities will present what they have already done and will ask for more time to be able to complete the remaining tasks.

In Resolution 1609 (2008) on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia, the Parliamentary Assembly set out four concrete requirements for the resolution of the political crisis that ensued after the presidential election in Armenia and resolved to consider the possibility of suspending the voting rights of the Armenian delegation to the Assembly at the opening of the June 2008 part-session,...

A rally in defense of the Armenian Pan National Movement was organized in the crossroads of Hobart and Hollywood streets, Los Angeles. According to the US information service the rally participants made a written application to PACE Chairman Luis Maria de Puch.

The children’s festival “Little resident of Yerevan” due at Liberty Square on June 20 was cancelled as, according to the Yerevan City Hall, children’s security wasn’t ensured at the square.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will hold an urgent debate on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia and implementation of PACE Resolution 1609 on June 25. The question was involved in the agenda without any objection during today’s session.

“My car is a serious political prisoner. It refuses to give testimony and doesn’t need a barrister,” Leader of “Hanrapetutiun” (Republic) Party Aram Sarkissian said to A1+.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Matthew Bryza (USA), Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) will arrive in the region on June 25-27.

On June 15 NZhK Leader Aram Karapetian left for Moscow to undergo medical treatment.. As a result of a thorough examination Karapetian was reported to have serious health problems.

“I find my detention inadmissible. I am jailed for my political dissent,” said Chairman of the “Ordeal of Soul” NGO and Armenian MP Sasun Mikayelian during an interview with A1+, “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” and Radio Liberty in the “Yerevan-Kentron” Penitentiary Institution.

“This has been our first national rally since March 1 and I ask you to observe a minute of silence for the victims”, said Levon Ter-Petrossian and noted that it could not be a usual rally since they had experienced the dreadful events of March 1. “The authorities will have to answer one day,” he promised. “I take on the responsibility to award all the 1 March victims with the title of a hero.”

Today Zhirayr Sefilian, Commander of the “Shushi” special battalion delivered a speech at the opposition rally held in the Matenadaran square. He welcomed all the participants of the rally in the name of Vahan Aronian and Vardan Malkhasian.

Member of the political board of the “Hanrapetutiun” (Republic) Party Suren Surenyants is conducting the rally in the Matenadaran square. First of all he congratulated people on 3 victories they had won. According to him the first victory was the breaking of the police barrier and holding the rally in the Matenadaran square. The second victory was the success of “A1+” in the European Court of Human Rights.

Notwithstanding the hot sun thousands of people are going up to the Matenadaran square, shouting “Freedom”, “Free, independent Armenia”, etc. Presently the pavements from the Matenadaran to the Conservatoire after Komitas are overcrowded. The nearby cafés are full too.

The rally has not started yet as the police hindered the opposition to bring the necessary equipment to the Matenadaran square. After concise negotiations the equipment was taken up to the platform. The microphone and the loudspeakers are already installed and the rally is expected to initiate soon.

Minutes ago RA First President Levon Ter-Petrossian and Chairman of the “People’s Party of Armenia” Stepan Demirchian arrived at the Matenadaran square. People greeted them with heavy applauses and happy shouts. By the time they arrived, Chairman of the “Liberal Progressive Party” Hovhannes Hovhannissian and Chairman of the “Hanrapetutiun” (Republic) Party Aram Sargssian had already appeared on the stage.

As a result of negotiations representative of the Pan National Movement Levon Zurabian and Deputy Chief of Police Alexander Afian came to an agreement to allow the rally to be held near the Matenadaran.

Why was there state of emergency declared in Armenia on March 1? “According to the official version it was inevitable as a result of violations and armed attack on the law-enforcement bodies, whereas the latter did not use their weapons”, declare members of the Armenian-French association of lawyers and continue: “Various data make you cast doubt on the authenticity of the facts.”

The Passport and Visa Department of the RoA Police has recently accepted Zhirair Sefilian’s third application for citizenship. The first bapplication was left unaddressed by Robert Kocharian still in 2004, and the second was rejected in 2006 without sufficient grounds. Zhirair Sefilian made his third attempt while serving his sentence but the officers of the Visa and Passport Department refused to accept it for different excuses.

As promised Armenia’s Police do their utmost to prevent the opposition’s rally near the Matenadaran. As usual the authorities have restored to “traditional” preventive methods. For instance, they ban people’s access to the capital.

Residents of Kotayk Marz couldn’t get to Yerevan today as all the roads were blocked by policemen. They are checking every bus, minibus and car. Yesterday, drivers of minibuses were strictly ordered to stay indoors. The bus-stops of Abovian town have been overcrowded since early morning.