Armenian journalist in Turkey given prison sentence for “illegal construction”March 9, 2011 - 17:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Well-known Istanbul journalist, Taraf newspaper correspondent Sevan Nisanyan was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison on charges of “illegal construction.” The buildings owned by Nisanyan – in Sirince, seven kilometers from Selcuk, were set to be demolished on the grounds that they had been illegally restored. The court imposed a fine of 160 TL on Nisanyan and deprived him of some privileges. In his interview to Zaman newspaper, he said the whole situation reminds him of a child’s play. “I forgive the judge who passed the sentence,” Nisanyan said. Earlier, Nisanyan donated his much-debated houses to an educational foundation. Nisanyan on Feb 24 handed over the title deeds of his 22 buildings – some serving as boutique hotels – to the Nesin Foundation, headed by Professor Ali Nesin, son of prominent Turkish intellectual Aziz Nesin. 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 | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |