Political prisoners Nicol Pashinyan and Sasun Mikaelyan, who were in jail for 3 three years and 3 months, yesterday were finally freed. Although Pashinyan turned himself to the law-enforcers in summer of 2009 but even that one year as a fugitive can also be considered deprivation from freedom.
It can be said that yesterday during the whole day the society was waiting and following the process of release of the oppositionists from jail. And the online broadcast from Artik penitentiary kept this topic even more urgent. And without exaggeration we may say that the political active population of Armenia was following the whole process and discussing details in parallel. Mikaelyan was released from the Hospital of Convicts at around 4:30 p.m. and Nicol Pashinyan was freed after 8 p.m. from Artik Penitentiary. Friends and relatives of the opposition detainee have gathered outside the prison since early morning waiting their release. Right after his release Mikaelyan stated that the government shouldn’t have treated him that way. Mikaelyan’s friends and adherents, who had been waiting for him outside the prison since early morning, welcomed him with warm applause and cheerful vociferation. "Prison was a school for me. There are many people with distorted fates in the other side of these walls, and I earnestly request our courts to reconsider their cases and prison terms. Should it benefit our nation, I am even ready to enter into a pact with Satan," Mikaelyan told journalists in the prison yard. Asked about his future steps, Mikaelyan said he will side with the position of the Armenian National Congress and will do what ANC considers to be right. "Serzh Sargsyan was my friend on the battlefield but today we hold different political viewpoints. When Serzh Sargsyan was the country’s prime minister, I warned him that I would not second him if he ran for presidency with his teammates," he said. Mikaelyan thanked everyone for their support and drove to his native village of Vanatur with his sons. “If during these three years Sargsyan succeeded in regulating the social-political situation in the country I’d apologize to my friend as I am not an arrogant guy. What I’d said three years ago took place. Now should it be me to apologize or the Republican party? I am just with my soul and spirit,” stated Mikaelyan. Let us remember that Mikaelyan was sentenced based on Articles 225 and 335 of the penal code, which defines public disorder organization and bearing of illegal weaponry. And he was released only a day ago based on the amnesty released by Serzh Sargsyan and approved by the National Assembly. Like several other prominent allies of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Mikaelyan was convicted 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 opposition members and supporters. In this regard Mikaelyan stated, “I have always fought for my justice and doesn’t matter whether I was released based on amnesty or not.” Mikaelyan, who is also a prominent veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war, insisted that he was “unjustly” sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of organizing what the Armenian authorities call “mass disturbances” and illegal arms possession. He was stripped of his parliament mandate because of that conviction. The oppositionist, who lives in the central Armenian town of Hrazdan, was also unrepentant about his decision to back Ter-Petrosyan in the February 2008 presidential election despite being affiliated with current President Serzh Sargsyan’s Republican Party. He said at the same time that Sargsyan remains his “comrade-in-arms,” alluding to the president’s prominent role in the war against Azerbaijan. Mikaelyan also weighed in on a dialogue between the Sargsyan administration and Ter-Petrosyan’s Armenian National Congress (ANC), which has been made possible by the amnesty. “If it’s really an honest dialogue, then I accept it,” he said. Four hours after Mikaelyan’s release Nicol Pashinyan was released, who was convicted for organizing mass riots. Unlike Mikaelyan the latter said that if Sargsyan is so humane let him voluntarily resign. Pashinyan struck an even more defiant note as he emerged from a high-security prison near the northwestern Armenian town of Artik later, chanting “Struggle, struggle to the end,” Ter-Petrosyan’s famous political slogan. “I can’t wait to take part in the May 31 rally,” he told journalists. Pashinyan went on to call for Sargsyan’s resignation and said the ANC “will do everything” to achieve it. He dismissed speculation that the ANC leadership is now ready to cut a deal with the Armenian presidential that would enable the latter to hold on to power. The outspoken oppositionist claimed he was repeatedly offered such deals by the authorities while in prison. “Let nobody doubt that we will free Armenia from this kleptocracy and establish democracy,” he declared. The former political prisoner says his primary goal is to change power in Armenia and he will do his utmost to topple the regime in the shortest period of time. Commenting on the alleged deal between the authorities and opposition, Pashinyan said they had been received similar proposals quite frequently- several times a month. At the same time, he noted that if he agreed to conclude a bargain with the authorities he would not have worked underground. Speaking about the amnesty, Pashinyan said, "Many say it was an act of humanism by Serzh Sargsyan. If Sargsyan is really humanist as he is characterized by the coalition parties, then he should resign.” “Be sure that the government during this period if not every day then several times a month has been offering me to cut a deal with them and I have shown the ones, who offered me the deal, the well-known way. I have told them that our struggle cannot be stopped and we are fighting for principles. There can be no doubt that our goal is to get rid of the gangster-government and the Republic of Armenia will become a permanent democracy.” Pashinyan stated that he had a feeling of a newly released prisoner, who wants to rush to the Liberty Square. To the question as to when Armenia will get rid of gangster-state Pashinyan said, “Since 2007 when I entered into politics I have encouraged and have always asked myself the question when the victory is going to come. For me when is not important. It may be in a week or in 6 months. I can only say one thing that I will struggle similarly principled as I have done always.” He also stated that they were going to do everything to come to by-elections soon. Pashinyan also added that he was impatiently waiting for the upcoming ANC rally due on May 31. He mentioned that a warm and vigorous meeting is expected. Let us also add that another political prisoner Ara Hovhannisyan is awaiting his release. And the amnesty didn’t extend to Shmavon Galstyan. Yesterday the spokesperson of Levon Ter-Petrosyan Arman Musinyan mentioned the following, “We have stated that our friends should be with us at the Liberty Square on May 31 rally. The technical matters of fulfilling this demand shouldn’t be our problem. It is the problem of the administration. When we have the final results we will give our final viewpoint in that regard.” Musinyan also highlighted that he are completing a phase, which was initiated in spring and proceeded with the agenda of the Congress. Let us add that as of late yesterday as a result of the amnesty over 200 prisoners were released.