Fugitive Armenian Oppositionist To Surrender
Nikol Pashinian is greeted by opposition supporters in March 2008
June 25, 2009
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) -- Nikol Pashinian, the outspoken newspaper editor who played a leading role in postelection protests in Yerevan last year, has said that he will surrender to law enforcement authorities after spending nearly 16 months on the run, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reports.
Pashinian, 34, was one of the most popular speakers during mass demonstrations held by opposition leader and former President Levon Ter-Petrosian following the disputed February 2008 presidential election.
In a written statement posted on his website, Pashinian said he has decided to come out of hiding “within the next month” after this week’s release of two dozen fellow oppositionists who were imprisoned on charges mainly stemming from the postelection violence.
They were set free as part of a general amnesty declared by the Armenian authorities.