Release of political prisoners will considerably alleviate tensions in the country, according to board chairman of the Armenian National Movement (ANM).

“Against this background the dialogue with the authorities is getting more real,” Aram Manukyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Asked what, in his opinion, served a reason for the amnesty, Manukyan presumed it was the pressure both from the Armenian people and the international community.

On May 27, Editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak paper Nikol Pashinyan and former member of the Armenian parliament Sasun Mikaelyan were released under the amnesty declared by the Armenian parliament.

President Serzh Sargsyan offered the National Assembly to declare amnesty on occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, the proposal being based on article 81.1.1 of the RA Constitution and article 90 of the law on National Assembly regulations. With a vote 91-0, the Armenian parliament approved Thursday, May 26, President Serzh Sargsyan’s proposal for declaration of amnesty for 396 people to be released and 379 to have their sentence cut.

From February 20, 2008, the Armenian opposition led by first president Levon Ter-Petrossian, who ran for presidency in 2008, but was not elected, held rallies in the central part of Yerevan, protesting against the election results. The protest actions resulted in unrest and clashes between the police and rally participants on March 1-2. According to the Office of RA Prosecutor General, around 200 people were injured, 10 people were killed, and over 100 people were arrested.