Italian ex-PM Berlusconi begins community sentenceMay 10, 2014 - 15:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has completed his first day of a year's community service at a Catholic care home near Milan, according to BBC News. He was sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud last year, commuted to four hours' work a week with elderly dementia patients. The care home said the 77-year-old would be treated like any other worker. As he arrived, Berlusconi was heckled by a trade unionist in a clown hat who shouted: "To prison!" "We Italian workers have one dream in our hearts: Berlusconi in San Vittore!" he yelled, referring to a prison in Milan. He was eventually taken away by police. The billionaire has been embroiled in a string of court cases. He was convicted last year of buying TV rights at inflated prices via offshore companies to avoid paying taxes in Italy. But he was spared prison because of his age. Berlusconi chose community service rather than house arrest to serve out his commuted sentence. This will enable him to continue to lead Forza Italia in the European elections, although he was forced to resign his seat in the upper house of parliament, BBC News reported. Photo: Yahoo Finanza Italia Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |