Heritage opposition party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan stressed the need for Armenia to activate steps for release of activist Vahagn Chakhalyan, convicted in Georgia.

“As a citizen of Armenia and political figure, I think the prosecution and sentencing Vahagn Chakhalyan to 10 years in jail is politically motivated,” she told a press conference.

The MP voiced readiness to raise the issue at European People's Party (EPP), in the face of PACE’s busy agenda.

Ms. Postanjyan further stressed the importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia for Chakhalyan’s case and the country’s Armenian community in general.

Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan was arrested by Georgian authorities on July 21, 2008. He was given 10-year sentence for “organization of large-scale events, public disturbance, hooliganism and illegal possession of weapons”.