15:48, 4 July 2008

Human Rights Watch calls on Armenian authorities to release Armand Babadzhanyan ahead of term

The International Human Rights Watch has called to release from custody Armand Babadzhanyan, editor-in-chief of the "Zhamanak-Yerevan" newspaper, before his term; he was convicted to 3.5 years of imprisonment for evasion of mandatory military service.

Holly Cartner, director of the department for Europe and Central Asia of the Human Rights Watch, has sent a letter to Gevork Danielyan, Minister of Justice, and Tigran Sarkisyan, Prime Minister, running, in particular, that "the remaining 1.5 years in custody disagree with the gravity of his guilt"; Mr Cartner has also called to revise Armand Babadzhanyan's case and release him before his term.

We remind you that Armand Babadzhanyan was sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment under Article 327 (part 2, point 2) of the Criminal Code for evasion of mandatory military service through falsifying documents. At the moment of presenting the charge, Mr Babadzhanyan was the editor-in-chief of the "Zhamanak-Yerevan" newspaper.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent