ANM: amnesty not to refer to ANM ex-leader Vano Siradeghyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Chairman of the Armenian National Movement (ANM) Board Aram Manukyan said the amnesty planned by the authorities will not refer to ANM ex-leader, Armenia’s former interior minister Vano Siradeghyan.

Amnesty will be granted only to those people, who are convicted under certain articles of the Criminal Code, while there is no a court decision on Siradeghyan’s case, Manukyan told a press conference in Yerevan. He added that ANM will continue its struggle for acquittal and return of Siradeghyan to Armenia.

Manukyan also refuted some politicians’ statements that the release under amnesty means confession of guilt by the convicted in the March 2008 events. He urged not to confuse amnesty with pardon. According to Manukyan, amnesty is the authorities’ decision and refers to certain articles of Armenia’s Criminal Code, while none of those imprisoned with respect to the March 2008 has appealed for pardon.

Armenia’s ex-minister of interior affairs, former parliament member and ANM leader Vano Siradeghyan was deprived of parliamentary immunity in 2010 and a criminal case was initiated against him for a range of crimes, including creation of a gang and organization of contract killings. Since that moment, Siradeghyan has disappeared from Armenia and an international arrest warrant has been issued for him via Interpol.