OPPOSITION RALLY PARTICIPANT SENTENCED TO 1,5-YEAR IMPRISONMENT

The Yerevan Court sentenced Edgar Arakelian, 24-year-old resident of the town of Lusakert (suburb of Yerevan), who was detained April 13 during the dispersal of an anti-government rally in Yerevan, to 1,5-year imprisonment. Arakelian was charged with attempting to “usurp state power.” He was filmed hitting an interior troops colonel with the plastic bottle. After the footage was shown on state television, he was immediately arrested. Yesterday he pleaded guilty saying that he was not aware he was hitting a policeman. Besides, in his words, he did it instinctively after the police sprayed him with tear gas and hit him in the face with a riot shield. After the verdict had been passed Arakelian’s attorney stated about the intention to appeal against the court decision.