Republican Party MPs who undersigned the letter to Armenian president, calling for Sasun Mikayelyan's release have already been condemned by the country, RPA parliamentary group leader Galust Sahakyan said. By doing this, the MPs comment on Sasun Mikaelyan's personal characters, he told today a news conference in Yerevan.

"That was just an act of provocation crowned with failure," Sahakyan said.

At that, he noted that Mikayelyan had been removed from the faction with personal, rather than political considerations. "He is not an offender but I can't consider him a political prisoner either," he said.

Galust Shakayan told journalists that Mikaelyan underwent surgery on December 16 and is expected to recover within 6-7 days.

21 MPs from National Assembly (mostly representatives of Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia) have addressed an open letter to Armenia's President, calling for Sasun Mikaelyan's release. The parliamentarians claimed that former MP Sasun Mikaelyan has serious health problems which may be aggravated in prison circumstances.

In their letter, Armenian MPs request President Serzh Sargsyan to grant Mikaelyan amnesty, regardless of the reason of arrest.