THE ARMENIAN MIRRORc SPECTATOR Since 1932 Volume LXXXXI, NO. 37, Issue 4679 APRIL 3, 2021 $2.00 Third Dink Murder Trial Verdicts Issued, Dink Family Issues Statement ISTANBUL (MiddleEastEye, Bianet, Dink Fami- ly) — An Istanbul court issued six sentences of life imprisonment and 23 jail terms, while 33 defendants were acquitted on March 26 in the third court case concerning the January 2007 Hrant Dink murder. One individual died during the trial, leading to charges against him being dropped. Among those sentenced were former police chiefs and security officials. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu commented: “The Hrant Dink case is not over. This is the third trial and it does not comprise behind-the-scenes actors who threatened him with a statement, threw him before vi- olent groups as an object of hate or failed to act so that he would get killed. As a matter of fact, the attorneys of the Dink family made an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last year as they could A cargo plane carrying COVID-19 Vaccines lands in Armenia. not have over 20 officials put on trial.” The 17-year-old Ogun Samast was convicted of the crime in 2011 but it was clear that he could not have Large Shipment of AstraZeneca carried out this alone. The first court ruling was issued Vaccine Arrives in Armenia By Raffi Elliott The shipment, which was initially Agency (EMA). Special to the Mirror-Spectator expected in mid-February, had been At a press conference held in Yere- delayed due to disruptions in the glob- van on Monday, Deputy Director of YEREVAN — A Swiss Air cargo al supply chain. The already-slow the National Centre for Disease Con- plane landing at Armenia’s Zvartnots vaccine delivery process had been trol Gayane Sahakyan discussed the International Airport on Monday, postponed even further when larger re- health concerns with WHO represen- March 29, delivered a large shipment cipients such as Germany and France tative in Armenia, Yegor Zayts. Both of the COVID-19 vaccine. The pack- began emulating smaller countries in speakers insisted that the vaccine was A protest calling for justice for Hrant Dink some age contains at least 24,000 doses of suspended acquisitions of the Swed- totally safe. years ago the AstraZeneca vaccine which Arme- ish-British brand. This temporary ban, National Centre for Disease Con- nia had applied for as part of the World claimed to be over safety concerns trol experts say that at this stage, the Health Organization’s COVAX Facili- related to the vaccine, is being inves- elderly and healthcare workers will be in January 2012 but after some reversals in a court of ty initiative earlier this year. tigated by the European Medicines see VACCINE, page 3 cassation it was retried by the same court which gave its ruling on the cases of nine main defendants, includ- ing Samast, in July 2019. Seven people were given prison sentences. Is Armenia on Verge of a Diplomatic Foriegn Minister Wants ‘Radical’ Change In the current court, prosecutors claimed those sen- Blunder Which Might Derail Recognition In Turkish Policy on Armenia tenced were supporters of Fethullah Gülen and in fact the latter, living in the US, was listed as a fugitive Of Genocide by Biden? YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Turkey along with 12 others whose cases were separated from We have been there before and we must end its “hostile” policies to- those who received verdicts. are almost there again. Twice during re- wards Armenia if it wants to contrib- Dink was a spokesman for the rights of Turkish-Ar- cent history, when US administrations ute to peace and stability in the re- menians and remains even in his death a symbol of the were coming close to recognizing the gion, Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan oppression that community faces. His family issued Armenian Genocide, Turkey thwarted it said on Monday, March 29. a statement on March 26 on the occasion of the new through diplomatic maneuvering. “In order to have real peace in our verdicts. region, we expect that Turkey will It first happened during the “soccer di- FM Ara Statement by the Dink Family seriously and radically change its ag- plomacy” between President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia Ayvazyan and President Abdullah Gul of Turkey. The second time gressive policy and end its hostile ac- On January 19, 2007, Hrant Dink was heinously was during the signing of the protocols in Zurich between tions against Armenia,” he said. murdered, shot from behind with two bullets, just in Armenia and Turkey in the presence of US Secretary of Speaking in the Armenian parliament, Ayvazyan noted front of the offices of his newspaper, Agos, in the heart State Hillary Clinton. that Ankara has never reciprocated Armenian attempts to of Istanbul. see RECOGNITION, page 20 improve bilateral relations. see CHANGE, page 3 see VERDICTS, page 5 LIECHTENSTEIN CALIFORNIA MASSACHUSETTS Armenia Defeats Smooth or Bold, Molly Grace Zeytoonian Is Liechtenstein, Climbs Soorj or Coffee Making New Music With to Top of World Plenty of Heart and Soul Qualifying Games Page 4 Page 6 Page 13 2 SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR ARMENIA NEWS from ARMENIA Turkey Will Further Armenian Constitutional Court Harden Stance Toward Armenia, Historian Says Rules in Favor of Kocharyan YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — Turkey will further toughen its YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s 300.1. By virtue of the decision of the Con- hostile stance towards Armenia Constitutional Court on Friday, March 26, stitutional Court, all the acts that referred since the latter has the status of a ruled that a penal code article under which to Article 300.1 are no longer in force and defeated state, Dr. Hayk Demoyan, former President Robert Kocharyan is be- are subject to review starting from 2009,” a former director of the Armenian ing prosecuted does not comply with two Vardevanyan said. Genocide Museum-Institute, said articles of the country’s basic law and is, The prosecution did not comment on the in an interview on March 30. therefore, invalid. Constitutional Court’s ruling immediately. His comments came in response The ruling published by Constitutional To the question of journalists whether to a question whether or not he be- Court Chairman Arman Dilanyan says that Danibekyan, who presides over the trial lieves Turkey will someday change Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code that of Kocharyan and others, can resist it, Var- its aggressive policy towards Ar- concerns “overthrowing the constitutional devanyan said: “There is no case for resist- menia after Monday’s statement of order” runs counter to articles 78 and 79 ing here. There is no Article 300.1 in the Foreign Minister Ara Aivazyan that of Armenia’s constitution that deal with the Criminal Code anymore.” he did not think Turkey would ever principles of proportionality and certainty Kocharyan, his former chief of staff change its anti-Armenian attitude. in relation to restrictions of basic rights and Armen Gevorgyan and two retired army “It will further toughen, because freedoms. generals stand accused of “overthrowing we have assumed the role of a beg- Judge Dilanyan said that the decision of the constitutional order” in the wake of a gar and are in the status of a loser. the Constitutional Court is final and comes disputed presidential election held in 2008. There is no obstacle for Turkey, it into effect upon its publication. The case concerns the alleged use of only seeks one thing — to fulfill its The constitutionality of the penal code the army by the Kocharyan government to Former President Robert Kocharyan main pan-Turkish agenda,” the his- article was contested by Kocharyan, who quell street protests. (news.am photo) torian said. faces up to 15 years in prison under the Kocharyan and the three other defen- Addressing the rumors of re- charge, as well as David Grigoryan, a dants deny that the military was used in the Since then Kocharyan has been twice moving the issue of the Armenian lower court judge who ordered the former dispersal of opposition demonstrations in freed and twice rearrested before the Court Genocide recognition from the in- president’s release from pretrial detention which 10 people were killed. of Appeals in June 2020 overturned a lower ternational agenda, Demoyan said: in May 2019, at the same time suspending They all reject the accusations as politi- court judge’s decision to deny him bail and “I am not surprised; this is exactly the case and applying to the Constitutional cally motivated. ordered him freed. what all this is leading to. Turkey Court regarding the matter. Kocharyan’s lawyers also find that since Eventually, Kocharyan was freed after wins with the use of a very cheap Kocharyan’s lawyer Aram Vardevanyan the article was not in the criminal code in paying a record $4.1 million bail set by Ar- and high-quality option, without told media after the publication of the rul- 2008, it could not be applied retrospective- menia’s Court of Appeals. spending any resources, and, what ing that since it comes into effect immedi- ly against their client. In addition to charges related to the is most striking, setting precondi- ately, it means that there is no longer Arti- Kocharyan was first arrested and indict- 2008 post-election crackdow,n Kocharyan tions on the defeated authorities.” cle 300.1 in the Criminal Code of Armenia. ed in July 2018, two months after the “Vel- is also accused of receiving a $3-million The historian spoke about the “[Judge] Anna Danibekyan will termi- vet Revolution” that brought current Prime bribe from an Armenian entrepreneur when Syunik Province as Armenia’s nate the criminal prosecution under Article Minister Nikol Pashinyan to power.