March 4, 2003 - 21:25 AMT
75 PARTICIPANTS OF UNAUTHORIZED MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS ALREADY RELEASED
As of the March 3 evening, 75 detained participants of unauthorized meetings and processions in Yerevan are already released. As the press service of the Armenian ministry of justice told "Arminfo" agency, the Criminal and Military Court of Appeal continues revision of resolutions of courts of first instance on arrests of people, who have appealed to have their punishments reviewed. As a result the verdict on 15-day arrests for each of the 75 is replaced by fines. Let us remind that Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II had interceded for displaying leniency towards those against whom administrative proceedings are instituted. As reported earlier, administrative actions were brought against 158 people for participation in unauthorized meetings and processions, disturbing public order and insubordination to officers of the law-enforcement bodies. 86 out of them underwent administrative arrests, the rest - other types of administrative punishment.