YEREVAN. - Release of oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) activist Tigran Arakelyan will be the pledge for continuing opposition-authorities dialogue, said ANC member Manuk Sukiasyan to a press conference on Monday.

“Tigran Arakelyan is kept as a hostage. There is some air of revenge here. If they released six other young men [involved in the same conflict with police] but keep Tigran, they definitely want to chaffer, to oppress. I do not doubt that Tigran will be released. If authorities retain sound mind not to fail the process, they will set him free immediately,” said Sukiasyan, adding that until release of political prisoners ANC did not go for a dialogue and it does not matter there is only one or one hundred prisoners.

He argued that keeping Tigran Arakelyan in custody, authorities try to gain time.

“In spring they denied any possibility of amnesty but it was there. Then they said there can be no dialogue, yet it took place. Then Galust Sahakyan said there will be no delegations, yet they are formed. I goes the way ANC demands,’’ said Sukiasyan, adding that even after Arakelyan’s release the talks cannot go on forever and another 2-3 rounds will show whether there is any progress.

Earlier Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that ANC suspended participation in the 7th round of government-opposition dialogue and will resume the talks only after Tigran Arakelyan’s release. ANC considers the latter a political prisoner.