Human rights activist Vardan Harutyunyan thinks the events taking place in the legal sphere are the continuation of the 2008 events.
"The chase against political prisoners and unfair trials continued in 2009. We step the year of 2010 with 15 political prisoners and one fugitive," the Human rights activist told A1+.
In 2008, 500 people were sent to prison for their political views while in 2009 the number of political prisoners reduced to 15 which is thought to be progress. What is your opinion on this?
In reply to A1+ Vardan Harutyunyan said: "No calculations can be carried out when we speak of human fates. Even one political prisoner defames Armenia. People are imprisoned simply for voicing support for an opposition candidate. Adherents of an opposition candidate are sued in Armenia and participation in the election of the candidate is viewed as an attempt of power usurpation."
Yesterday Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan demanded an 8-year imprisonment for editor-in-chief of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily Nikol Pashinyan.
Vardan Harutyunyan says he is surprised at the aspiration of sentencing a person regardless of the fact the defendant has been found guilty or not.
"I was present at yesterday's trial and I can assure you that the prosecutor presented the court the speech for the prosecution. It shows that legal proceedings affect speeches of accusation in Armenia."
Nikol Pashinyan who went into hiding after the events of March 1-2, 2008, surrendered to law-enforcement agencies in July 2009.
"Nikol's trial can be a good lesson for the fugitive Virab Manukyan as everyone knows that the same fate is expecting him after he gives himself up," added Vardan Harutyunyan.
Remind that the National Assembly declared a search for fugitives Khachatur Sukiasian, Nikol Pashinyan, Hamlet Hovhannisyan and Virab Manukyan after the events of March 1.
