Nikol Pashinyan Won’t be Granted Amnesty, Says his Lawyer

Imprisoned journalist and chief editor of local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”) Nikol Pashinyan won’t be among those granted amnesty under the draft general amnesty presented in National Assembly today, Pashinyan’s attorney Yervand Varosyan told Epress.am today.

“According to Point 9.2a of the amnesty — that is, ‘not to apply amnesty on those individuals for whom the sentence appointed in the last 10 years was reduced on the basis of decisions to announce amnesty by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia or decree on awarding a pardon by the President of the Republic of Armenia’ — the amnesty won’t affect Nikol Pashinyan, since Nikol’s sentence was already reduced through the previous amnesty declared by [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan,” he said.

Earlier, Armenian National Congress (HAK) senior representative Levon Zurabyan had said that a “political process [has begun] in which all political prisoners [referring to Nikol Pashinyan among others] will be released by May 28.” If Sasun Mikaelyan and Nikol Pashinyan are not present at the next HAK rally on May 31, Zurabyan said he personally is prepared to stage a sit-in.