Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YEREVAN1303
2007-10-31 04:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
POLICE FILE CHARGES AGAINST TER-PETROSSIAN SUPPORTERS
how-toVZCZCXRO3618 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHYE #1303 3040426 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 310426Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6559 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0442
UNCLAS YEREVAN 001303
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM AM
SUBJECT: POLICE FILE CHARGES AGAINST TER-PETROSSIAN SUPPORTERS
REF: Yerevan 1279
UNCLAS YEREVAN 001303
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM AM
SUBJECT: POLICE FILE CHARGES AGAINST TER-PETROSSIAN SUPPORTERS
REF: Yerevan 1279
1. (U) On October 30, Armenian police filed criminal charges against
five supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP) who
were detained October 23 (reftel). The charges include "hooliganism
committed by a group," and "violence against a representative of the
authorities." If proven, the charges carry a maximum term of five
years' imprisonment. The editors of two fiercely pro-opposition
newspapers, Nikol Pashinyan from the "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily, and
Shoger Matevosyan from the "Fourth Estate" semi-weekly, were among
those charged. The remaining three are Petros Makeyan, leader of
the small opposition party Democratic Motherland, and his two sons,
Tigran and Karen Makeyan. Meanwhile, on October 25 Gohar Veziryan,
a female journalist from the "Fourth Estate," was hospitalized with
a concussion ascribed to the October 23 incident.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: The police's heavy-handed tactics needlessly cast
an unflattering light on authorities as they prepare to contest the
February presidential election. The filing of these criminal
charges reinforces the widespread impression that authorities are
prepared to do whatever it takes to hold onto power.
PENNINGTON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM AM
SUBJECT: POLICE FILE CHARGES AGAINST TER-PETROSSIAN SUPPORTERS
REF: Yerevan 1279
1. (U) On October 30, Armenian police filed criminal charges against
five supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian (LTP) who
were detained October 23 (reftel). The charges include "hooliganism
committed by a group," and "violence against a representative of the
authorities." If proven, the charges carry a maximum term of five
years' imprisonment. The editors of two fiercely pro-opposition
newspapers, Nikol Pashinyan from the "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily, and
Shoger Matevosyan from the "Fourth Estate" semi-weekly, were among
those charged. The remaining three are Petros Makeyan, leader of
the small opposition party Democratic Motherland, and his two sons,
Tigran and Karen Makeyan. Meanwhile, on October 25 Gohar Veziryan,
a female journalist from the "Fourth Estate," was hospitalized with
a concussion ascribed to the October 23 incident.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: The police's heavy-handed tactics needlessly cast
an unflattering light on authorities as they prepare to contest the
February presidential election. The filing of these criminal
charges reinforces the widespread impression that authorities are
prepared to do whatever it takes to hold onto power.
PENNINGTON