On June 16 civil society activists and supporters of Arman Babajanian, the editor-in-chief of “Zhamanak Yeravan” newspaper and “Zhamanak Los Angeles” staged a protest action near the Government building.

Today the Court of General Jurisdiction of Shengavit district put the brother of NA MP Myasnik Malkhassian, Isahak Malkhassian, on a one-year probation period. The latter was released from the courtroom.

“The Yerevan City Hall will likely prohibit the opposition to hold the rally near the Matenadaran as well,” said Levon Ter-Petrossian's Representative Levon Zurabian.

Yerevan’s Administrative Court changed the restraint of detainee Vardan Jhangirian on June 16. Jhangirian was released after giving a written undertaking not to leave the city, one of Jhangirian's advocates, Tigran Safarian, informed A1+.

The Youth Union of the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) and the “Sargis Tkhruni” Youth Union of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHK) staged a protest action in front of the RoA Ministry of Health on June 16.

On June 16 Serzh Sarkissian signed the amendments to the RoA Laws on “Military Police” and on “Conduct of Assembles, Meetings, Demonstrations and Rallies” and on the Labour Code of the Republic of Armenia.

The UK government today announced the introduction of a new system for assessing highly skilled migrants wanting to come to the UK to work. Tier 1 of the new points based system (PBS) will come into effect on 30 June.

After rejecting the opposition’s notification to hold a rally at Liberty Square on June 20 the Yerevan City Hall suggested holding the rally near “Hrazdan” sports ground.

The only opposition faction in the Armenian Parliament, ”Zharangutiun,” considers the implementation of PACE Resolution 1609 as unrealistic. The opinion was expressed by ”Zharangutiun” Leader Raffi Hovannissian during today’s parliamentary breifings.

On June 14 the Venice Commission is due to discuss the amendments to the RoA Law on “Marches, rallies, meetings and demonstrations” proposed on March 17, 2008.

On June 13 the Court of General Jurisdiction of Shirak Marz found Ashot Zakarian, Petros Makeyan and Shota Saghatelian guilty under Article 2 of the RoA Criminal Court / “Interference in the fulfillment of the right to vote, in the activities of election commissions or in the duties of the persons participating in the election/.

Yesterday the Yerevan City Hall turned down the notification of the Popular Movement to sanction the opposition’s rally due at Liberty Square on June 20. The City Hall explained the rejection by its intention to hold an event at the Square on the same day. Later in the day, the City Hall said the rally is allowed to be held near the sports ground “Hrazdan” on June 20.

The freedom fighters (hereinafter azatamartiks) of Shirak Marz made an appeal to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians.

Today the Municipality rejected the request of the opposition to authorize the rally due on June 20. As the Municipality promises the causes for rejection will be announced later.

Zhirayr Sefilian, Commander of the Shushi special battalion will take part in the rally organized by the Pan Armenian National Movement due on June 20. After his release it was the first time that Sefilian had met with journalists. “It does not make much difference whether the rally will be held in Azatutyan Square (Liberty Square) or near the Matenadaran.

Former Deputy Minister of National Security Service Gurgen Yeghiazarian, who is presently in “Yerevan-Kentron” Penitentiary, went on a hunger-strike today. As Arsen Babayan, Press secretary of the RA Justice Ministry Penitentiary Department informs, Yeghiazarian applied to the Head of “Yerevan-Kentron” Penitentiary notifying of his permanent hunger-strike.

“Those who have appropriated the power will have to answer for it”, declared leader of the People’s Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchian at the “De Facto” Club today. He meant the present authorities who continuously falsify elections but blame the opposition for their destructive attitude.

“A full revelation of the March 1 occurrences is first of all advantageous to the authorities as only after giving answers to these thorny questions they will be able to turn over the page and go ahead. Otherwise questions will continue being put from the NA rostrum and numerous squares,” said the chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Legal Affairs David Harutiunian.

These days Armenia's Parliament is discussing the draft bill on setting up an ad hoc committee to investigate the March 1events. According to the bill, the committee will feature two parliamentarians from each faction and one non-partisan parliamentarian.

Former presidential contender Arman Melikian thinks that Armenia’s leadership will hardly implement PACE Resolution 1609. He says that the political prisoners should be set free as most of them are imprisoned for their political dissent. While the authorities think that once the political activists are released they will upset the country's interior political situation.

Georges Colombier (France, EPP/CD) and John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC), co-rapporteurs on the monitoring of Armenia’s obligations and commitments, will be making a fact-finding visit to Armenia in the context of the implementation of PACE Resolution 1609 (2008) on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia.

Minutes ago the Pan National Movement Center conveyed the following message: Ex-member of the Karabakh Committee, former MP and Director of the Television and Radio State Committee, Plenipotentiary-Executive of the central pre-election staff for Levon Ter-Petrossian in Gegharkunik Region Samvel Gevorgian was arrested on June 10.

Today representatives of the Arabkir Police Department finally uncovered and arrested Member of the Karabakh Committee, former Director of the State Television, Representative of the Pan National Movement Center Samvel Gevorgian.

“Special elections must be held in Armenia in no less than 1 and no more than 1.5 years’ time”, declared ex-member of the Dashnaktsutyun (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) Party, former RA Consul General to Saint Petersburg Ruben Hakobian. In his opinion it is the only way to ease the atmosphere of mistrust and intolerance reigning in the country. And determination to declare special elections must be expressed by Serzh Sarkissian only.