The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) spokesman commented on recent statement by the amnestied ex-MP Sasun Mikaelyan, who said RPA has to apologize to him.

“Mikaelyan’s statement reflects his political assessment of the situation. Now, according to my political assessment, RPA is strong enough to forgive and amnesty, instead of apologizing,” Eduard Sharmazanov told a news conference in Yerevan, reminding that Mikaelyan supported Serzh Sargsyan at the presidential election.

“The amnesty announced by President Sargsyan aims at formation of political culture and alleviation of tension in the country, which proves the president to be a carrier of humanitarian values, who sets sustainable and peaceful development of the state as a high priority,” Sharmazanov remarked.

Former member of the Armenian parliament Sasun Mikaelyan and the editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak paper Nikol Pashinyan, convicted in the March 1, 2008 case, were released on May 27.

President 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.