Farmanyan: appeal of Armenian MPs is not enough to pardon Mikaelyan

The appeal of parliamentarians to President of Armenia asking him to pardon oppositionist Sasun Mikaelyan, sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment, is not a legal document. This was stated by Samvel Farmanyan, press secretary of the head of Armenia, in his comments on the MPs' open letter.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 14 Deputies of the National Assembly of Armenia - mainly from the parties of the ruling coalition - addressed President Serzh Sargsyan with an appeal to pardon the imprisoned activist of the opposition and veteran of the Karabakh War Sasun Mikaelyan.

According to Mr Farmanyan, the MPs' letter gives no grounds for releasing the inmate. He has noted that this sort of appeals to the President can be divided into two categories. The first one contains the request to release Sasun Mikaelyan from further punishment because of health condition.

"The Constitution does not vest President with the right to petition on releasing inmates because of their health condition," said the press secretary.

Speaking about the second category of petitions, which ask to pardon Mikaelyan, the press secretary has noted that applicants ask to use the procedure of pardoning. "President of Armenia can consider the issue of pardoning exclusively on the basis of the inmates petition. Any letters of the MPs, whether we want it or not, fail to form the legal bases," said Farmanyan.