Today Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as Russia's third president. The inauguration ceremony was held in the Kremlin. The former First Premier of the Russian Federation won a landslide victory in the March Presidential election.

“The March 1 events were neither expected nor anticipated,” RoA President's Adviser Garnik Isagulian said to A1+. He thinks that the responsibility of the events lies with everyone, including him “Mass media, opposition and authorities were to realise the seriousness of the moment and foresee further developments and their outcome in the country.

On May 6, during a live broadcast, RoA President’s Adviser Garnik Isagulian promised to phone Levon Zurabian on May 7. He said he wanted to arrange a dialogue between the opposition and the leadership. Isagulian added that they had met many times before the March 1 events. As promised, Isagulian rang up the representative of Levon Ter-Petrossian’s pre-election headquarters this morning.

On May 6 RoA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov at Permanent Representation of France at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The meeting later continued in an enlarged format, featuring the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Bernard Fassier (France), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Matthew Bryza (USA) and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Yesterday RA citizen 31 year-old Gegham Harutyunian was taken to Malatia-Sebastia Police station with no explanation. “At about 8.30 three people, one of which was in a police uniform, came to our place and took my son. My wife was at home but they didn’t tell her anything”, Misha Harutyunian, detained Gegham Harutyunian’s father informed “A1+”.

The date of licensing TV channels approaches. According to the “Law on TV and Radio” tenders for granting license to different TV frequencies are to be held in spring. The tender for the frequency of TV channel “ALM” will be the first to be announced. Its license expires in April 2009.

Member of the Republican Party MP Edward Sharmazanov is not against a dialogue between authorities and opposition. “But I am sorry to declare that opposition leaders give ultimatum instead of conducting negotiations. If a dialogue comprises prerequisites, it stops being a dialogue, it is an ultimatum”, declares Sharmazanov. “Our society can only benefit from negotiations. Repulsive attitude of the authorities is intolerable.”

Today morning member of the Conservative Party, resident of Shengavit district Karen Hekimian was wakened by the policemen. They introduced themselves as employees of the Criminal-Investigative Department of Shengavit district.

Today the RoA Appellate Court heard the case of Husik Baghdasarian, commander of a Masis regiment. Husik Baghdasarian has been sentenced to a three-year imprisonment by a Masis Court. He is charged with carrying illegal weapon /Article 235, Penal Code/. Today the RoA Appellate court heard Baghdasarian's appeal against the court decision. Husik Baghdasarian was taken to the courtroom in handcuffs.

The regime is so scared that they even deny people’s access to courtrooms. I wished to participate in the court sitting and protect the rights of political prisoners. Everything was done to keep me in custody.

Upon the request of detained MP Hakob Hakobian the Hakobians' family doctor Artash Sanossian visited the “Yerevan-Kentron” Penitentiary institution.

Under a May 5 decision of the RoA Appellate Court the restraint of the “Nor Zhamanakner Party” (NZhK) leader Aram Karapetian was left unchanged. To note, the Court of the Kentron and Nork-Marash communes had decided to prolong Karapetian’s detention for two months.

According to our preliminary data, Republican Party (HHK) member and businessman Gagik Sahakian has been elected Mayor of Gyumri. He gained 2154 votes at yesterday’s election.

The representatives of all forces made speeches at the second congress of the forces supporting Levon Ter-Petrossian. The congress was presided over by Levon Zurabian who thanked the “Zharangutiun” (Heritage) Party for making every possible effort to overcome the crisis in the country.

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The HZhK leader was the first to make a speech. He said that the post-election developments in the country were caused by mass violations and tough policy of the authorities. As a result, most people have appeared in wretchedness and delusion.

Recently the commission of Vardashen Penitentiary which approves early or conditional release from prison has held a meeting to discuss the cases of Zhirair Sefilian and Vardan Malkhassian. The commission concluded that they had not been corrected yet and consequently put off the hearing of the cases.

Today Armenian civilians welcomed first President Levon Ter-Petrossian with loud applauses and shouts, “Levon, Levon.” A group of invitees didn’t manage to get into the building as all seats were already occupied and the hall was overcrowded. The second congress of the Popular Movement started at exactly 12.

The second congress of the Popular Movement is scheduled for 12.00, May 2, in a RoA Government hall. Some hundreds of people have gathered at the entrance of the building since early morning. They have come to participate in the congress. Policemen are grouped nearby.

On April 30 a march was held in Talin in defence of political figures and azatamartiks detained on March 1. The marchers, mostly women, crossed 7 kilometers signing patriotic songs and shouting “Free political prisoners,” “Go away, Serzh,” etc. A group of women from Yerevan joined the marchers on the way to Talin. They were escorted by highway forces who ensured the marchers’ security.

Today ARF Dashnaktsutiun MP Ruzan Arakelian posed a question to the RoA Government concerning the increase of transport fees. RoA Deputy Premier Armen Gevorgian said the relevant bodies had been assigned to study the matter and find solutions. “We shall inform you as soon as we draw a final conclusion,” he said.

Today the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia endorsed the programme presented by the RoA Government. The programme was approved with 88 votes for, 3 votes against and no abstentions. NA Speaker Tigran Torossian says the Armenian Parliament is willing to support the Government to implement the programme.

On April 17 the Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) passed a resolution on Armenia according to which Armenia’s leaderships are to release those detained on political motivations, conduct an independent investigation of the March 1 unrest, start a dialogue with the opposition and review the amendments to the Law on conducting meetings, assemblies, demonstrations and rallies. Under Serzh Sarkissian's...

Today in the Common Jurisdiction Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash Districts March 1 detainees Misak Hovakimian and Hovhannes Ghazarian were on trial. Both of them were accused of using violence against the police.