On November 30 six human rights and journalistic organizations – Center of Right and Information, the Free Tribune of Civil Initiatives, Helsinki Committee of Armenia, Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens Assembly, “Investigative Journalists”, “Asparez” Journalist’s Club of Gyumri – disseminated a statement, urging the Commission for Early Release and Release on Parole to set free the Chief Editor of “Zhamanak-Yerevan” newspaper Arman Babajanian, sentenced to 3.5 years’ imprisonment for document fraud to evade military service. Having reminded that Arman Babajanian has been in prison for about 1.5 years and has already received the refusal of the Commission above (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 1-6, 2007), the signatories expressed a hope that this time the Commission will make an impartial consideration and will secure the new petition of early release. In the statement of Arman Babajanian himself, published in “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily of November 29 it was noted that December will be another time when his sentence can be reconsidered.
