On February 18 at “Artik” penitentiary RA Criminal Court of Appeal ended the consideration of the complaint of Nikol Pashinian, Chief Editor of “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily. The latter had appealed the decision rendered by court of general 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 a 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, Nikol Pashinian contested it at the court of general jurisdiction of Aragatsotn region, which revoked the suit on November 19, 2010. The hearings at the Criminal Court of Appeal started on January 21, 2011. On February 14, before the court session, Nikol Pashinian claimed that his constitutional rights are being violated at “Artik” penitentiary (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 11-17, 2011).
At the session of February 18 the Criminal Court of Appeal revoked the application of Nikol Pashinian, upholding the punishment term, determined by the Head of “Nubarashen” penitentiary.
