21:00, 9 March 2010

Armenian Appeal Court cuts journalist Pashinyan's imprisonment

The Appeal Court of Armenia has upheld the verdict passed by the general jurisdiction court of communities Kentron-Nork-Marash to oppositionist Nikol Pashinyan. At the same time, the court ruled to apply amnesty and halved his custody term.

The Appeal Court, presided by Judge Serzh Avetisyan, has rejected the petition of Mr Pashinyan's lawyers asking to acquit their client.

Lusine Saakyan, Nikol Pashinyan's advocate, called the verdict of the Appeal Court "shameful and illegal." At the same time, she said that such decision could be expected.

"We've no need of their amnesty, as Nikol Pashinyan committed no crime. We had expected an acquittal," she said.

Ms Saakyan promised to appeal against the Appeal Court's decision at the Cassation Court within the month to come. According to her story, driving the case through all the domestic instances will allow then addressing the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan

Source: CK correspondent