MOSCOW–In a letter addressed to Levon Ter-Petrosyan–a second group of Russian academicians and activists urged Armenian authorities to suspend their case against Armenian Revolutionary Federation leader Vahan Hovanessian and 30 others.
"We–the intellectuals of Russia and members of the `Karabakh’ committee–regard–with deep regret–the ongoing trial–the defendants of which are activists of the Karabakh movement," stated the letter.
The group specifically named Hovanessian and co-defendant Manuel Yeghiazarian–the leader of the "Arapo" battalion.
In the letter–the group outlined its activities in lobbying for the Karabakh cause throughout Russian political and academic circles–in hopes of creating a positive and pro-Armenian public opinion toward the conflict.
The group also expressed its admiration toward the will of the Armenian people in uniting against adversity and its heroic efforts in spearheading the Karabakh liberation struggle.
The letter was authored by I. Bourgova–A. Betavashvili–S. Vermisheva–G. Petrova–A. Nuykin and V. Oskotsky.
The academicians urged Ter-Petrosyan to consider the defendants’ service to their nation and their heroic roles in Karabakh while determining their fates within the trial framework.