YEREVAN -- An appeals court in Yerevan has ordered the release of prominent opposition youth activist Tigran Arakelian.
The court ruled on October 14 that some parts of the charges against Arakelian must be dropped and his six-year prison sentence reduced to three years.
The court also ruled that Arakelian must be freed under the national amnesty announced recently by the government to mark the 22nd anniversary of Armenia's independence.
An activist from the opposition Armenian National Congress party, Arakelian has spent more than two years in jail.
His lawyers said after the ruling that they will appeal the decision -- demanding Arakelian's full exoneration.
Arakelian was arrested in August 2011 and later sentenced on charges of assaulting police. He insists the case against him is politically motivated.
The court ruled on October 14 that some parts of the charges against Arakelian must be dropped and his six-year prison sentence reduced to three years.
The court also ruled that Arakelian must be freed under the national amnesty announced recently by the government to mark the 22nd anniversary of Armenia's independence.
An activist from the opposition Armenian National Congress party, Arakelian has spent more than two years in jail.
His lawyers said after the ruling that they will appeal the decision -- demanding Arakelian's full exoneration.
Arakelian was arrested in August 2011 and later sentenced on charges of assaulting police. He insists the case against him is politically motivated.
