Two dozen mostly pro-government members of Armenia’s parliament urged President Serzh Sargsyan yesterday to pardon one of their former opposition colleagues serving an eight-year prison sentence for his role in last year’s post-election violence in Yerevan. The 21 signatories pointed to Sasun Mikaelyan’s worsened health condition that led to his transfer to a civilian hospital in Yerevan last week. The open letter was signed by 8 RPA and 7 Prosperous Armenia MPs. The authors of the letter tied to maximally avoid political estimations. Indeed they don’t name Sasun Mikaelyan a political prisoner and only ask from Serzh Sargsyan the following, "We are deeply concerned about the reports of Sasun Mikaelyan’s ill-health. Mikaelyan’s doctor has announced that our colleague, the commander of the "Sasun" detachment needs a serious operation and prison conditions may further worsen his critical state. Irrespective of the charges filed against Sasun Mikaelyan, we ask you to pardon him under Article 55 of the RA Constitution," reads the letter signed. Indeed, we may discuss the courage of the MPs, their behavior and other similar issues. But the human qualities of many of our MPs are no news. The majority of these MPs voted “for” depriving Sasun Mikaelyan and the other MPs of the political immunity. The prominent oppositionist, who was stripped of his parliament mandate in October, was diagnosed with suffering from serious respiratory problems that have adversely affected his heart. He was due to undergo nasal surgery last week. Like several other prominent allies of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Mikaelyan was convicted in June of organizing “mass disturbances” in the wake of the February 2008 presidential election. He was also found guilty of illegal arms possession. The resulting eight-year sentence disqualified him from a general amnesty that led to the release of some 30 opposition members and supporters. It is another issue whether Mikaelyan himself agrees to be released through “amnesty.” Nevertheless, despite of motives and further developments this kind of letter and request on part of certain pro-government MPs was to a certain extent a surprise in the current political-moral conditions. However, two hours after the publication of this letter the RPA rushed to say that the faction MPs were cheated by not specifying in what. Yesterday the ruling party o Armenia officially stated that without the consent with the party the member MPs don’t have the right to conduct activities conforming to minimum morality principles.
