Turkish protesters cleared of charges over Armenian Genocide bannerMay 31, 2018 - 16:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Prosecutor’s Office of Istanbul has ruled that the phrase ‘Armenian Genocide’ lies within the limits of freedom of speech and thought, Ermenihaber.am reports. IHD’s (Human Rights Association) Istanbul Branch organized a Genocide memorial service in the Sultanahmet district of the city on April 24. However, the police dispersed the remembrance program on the grounds that there were banners with the term ‘Genocide’ written on them. IHD activists Laman Yurtsever, Jiyan Tosun and Gamze Özdemir, who carried the banners, were taken into custody and released afterwards. The inscription on the banner in question called for recognizing the Armenian Genocide in which 1.5 million Armenians were murdered at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. When the investigation over the incident was over, Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office decided there was no room for prosecution. The decision was based on other decision taken by the European Court of Human Rights IHD Istanbul Branch pointed out that the decision of the Prosecutor's Office is important and that it should be taken into account from the angle of political will. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. 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. 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. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |