SIX PARTICIPANTS OF ACT OF TERRORISM IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SENTENCED TO EXTREME PENALTY

Six participants of the act of terrorism committed in the Armenian parliament October 1999 are sentenced to life imprisonment. The Yerevan first instance court today announced the verdict on the so-called “October 27” case. Nairi and Karen Hunanians, their uncle Vram Galstian, Eduard Grigorian, Derenik Bejanian and Ashot Knyazian are sentenced to life imprisonment. Another prisoner at bar – Hamlet Stepanian – is condemned to 14 years of deprivation of liberty. All are recognized guilty on a number of articles of the Criminal Code of Armenia, the gravest of which are fatherland betrayal, act of terrorism, committing especially dangerous state crimes. It should be noted that it is the extreme penalty after the latest repeal of death penalty in Armenia. According to the republic legislation, the decision of the court of first instance can be appealed against within a 15-day period in the Court of Appeal on Military and Criminal Cases. The defendants did not show remorse. Chieftain Nairi Hunanian explained the actions of the group by urge to save Armenia from “collapse and corruption, which in his opinion, prevailed in the country under premier Vazgen Sargsian.” It should be reminded that October 27, 1999 a group of terrorists rushed in the parliament hall and shot point-blank leaders and members of the Armenian parliament and government.” Eight were killed – National Assembly speaker Karen Demirchian, prime minister Vazgen Sargsian, parliament vice-speakers Yuri Bakhshian and Ruben Miroyan, minister for operational issues Leonard Petrosian, parliament deputies Armenak Armenakian, Henrik Abrahamian, Mikayel Kotanian.