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March 28
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Today is the 23rd anniversary of the deadly shootings in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia.

NA speaker Karen Demirchyan, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, NA vice-speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, MPs Armenak Armenakyan, Henrik Abrahamyan, Mikayel Kotanyan, as well as Minister of Operational Affairs—who actually performed the functions of Deputy Prime Minister—Leonard Petrosyan were killed as a result of this crime that took place 23 years ago.

The leader of the gunmen was Nairi Hunanyan. Later, Hunanyan testified and stated that he had had terrorist plans at the state level in 1991, but he could not implement them then due to circumstances.

The verdict of the court in the "October 27" case was issued on December 2, 2003. Accordingly, 6 people were sentenced to life imprisonment, and one person—to 14 years in prison.

Nairi and Karen Hunanyan, Derenik Bejanyan, and Ashot Knyazyan are still alive from among those sentenced to life. According to the official version, Vram Galstyan committed suicide on April 27, 2004 in his prison cell. Hamlet Stepanyan, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, died in May 2010 from a heart attack. Norayr Yeghiazaryan has died before the announcement of the verdict—and as a result of electric shock in his prison cell. And Eduard Grigoryan died on November 3, 2017 in a Yerevan hospital.

The defendants were found guilty under the Criminal Code articles on usurping state power; murder of a state, political or public figure; attempt to usurp power; terrorism; illegal deprivation of liberty; and illegal acquisition, sale, and carrying of weapons.

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