On January 21 RA Criminal Court of Appeal started considering the complaint of Nikol Pashinian, Chief Editor of “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily. The latter had appealed the decision rendered by court of first jurisdiction on November 19, 2010 on the suit against Tigran Navasardian, Head of “Nubarashen” penitentiary. As it has been reported, in January 2010 Nikol Pashinian was found guilty in mass riots of March 1, 2008 in Yerevan, and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment. In March 2010 the unexpired term of imprisonment of the journalist was cut down by half, as result of an amnesty applied. The duration of his imprisonment was to be determined by “Nubarashen” penitentiary, where the Chief Editor of “Haykakan Zhamanak” was to serve his sentence. The term, defined by Tigran Navasardian, Head of “Nubarashen”, made 3 years 10 months and 29 days. Considering that this term is overrated by more than 5 months, the Chief Editor of “Haykakan Zhamanak” contested it at the court of general jurisdiction of Aragatsotn region, which revoked the suit on November 19, 2010 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, November 19-25, 2010).
At the session of January 21 the court secured the petition of Nikol Pashinian’s attorney, Yervand Varosian, to hold the hearings in presence of his client. The next court session is assigned on February 1 at “Artik” penitentiary, where Nikol Pashinian is currently detained.
