Claiming insufficient evidence to the contrary, a pre-examination unit has dropped charges against HAK activist Tigran Arakelyan. The same unit also dropped criminal charges against Sahak Moradyan and Herbert Gevorgyan, two other activists indicted in the same case.

Mr. Arakelyan’s lawyer, Varduhi Elbakyan, told "Hetq" that they would be appealing the sentence nevertheless. "My client should be viewed as the injured party in the case and not the accused." Tigran Arakelyan had been charged with "hooliganism" and with physically assaulting a representative of the government last July 1 when handing out leaflets announcing an upcoming HAK rally.