In what may prove to be the year's other main political development, Armenia's Supreme Court in December issued a verdict in a closely watched trial which included members of the banned Dashnak party (ARF/HHD). The court sentenced three defendants to death, but found no evidence that the HHD had ties to a terrorist movement. The alleged link had been used to justify the party's banning in 1994. It remains to be seen whether the ban will be lifted. Lawrence Holland 1996 In Review: Relative Peace Comes To Armenia, Azerbaijan, And Georgia (RFE/RL)

Kim Balayan case was to begin in March

Court proceedings in the case of Armenian Revolutionary Federation leader Kim Balayan, who was arrested after the September 25, 1996 post-presidential election crackdown in Yerevan, were to begin in March. Investigators transferred the case to Armenia's Supreme Court in January.

Balayan was arrested on Sept. 26 and charged with organizing mass disorders, illegal possession, preparation, purchase and sale of arms and ammunition. He is being held at the Noubarashen prison. His defense attorney is Rouben Sahakian.

Kim Balayan is not guilty and this case is based personal reasons, a representative of the ARF Executive Council of Armenia said, adding that otherwise, he would have been released like other ARF members.

A total of twenty ARF embers were arrested after the September 25, 1996 events, and all by one have been released.

Hovanessian was not allowed meeting with attorney

One of the main politically motivated trials in Yerevan is the so-called "Trial of 31." The 31 defendants are accused of masterminding a coup attempt in July 1995. One of the defendants is ARF leader Vahan Hovanessian, who recently told the court that he was refused access to his defense attorney for a month.

Hovanessian's defense attorney Hovaness Assryan told reporters that "[the authorities] are violating the law, Armenia's Constitution and all international norms." He added that judicial authorities had begun to pressure Hovanessian through such measures on Feb. 11, when the defendant told the court that the prosecution had offered him an unacceptable and secret out of court settlement.

In February, Hovanessian told the court that the prosecution had offered him a deal by which he could be free, but he responded that while there were elements in that settlement offer which appealed to him personally, "the Armenian Revolutionary Federation flag was not for sale."

In January, Hovannessian's attorneys called for their client's release, citing a number of points they felt should be more than enough to support his release. The points cited were Hovannesian's character and reputation as a well-respected intellectual outside of Armenia; his position as a high-ranking ARF member; his cooperation with authorities during questioning in the so-called "Dro" case and his responsibilities to his two young children.

In early March, Hovanessian's co-defense attorney Anahit Yessayan asked the court to drop all charges against the defendants, since March 5 marked the first anniversary of the commencement of the trial and the prosecution has yet to prove any of its charges.

A large number of witnesses have been testifying that they had no information regarding an alleged forceful overthrow of the government.

Most of the defendants have testified in court that their admissions of guilt and previous confessions were brought about through torture and other involuntary means, and under Armenian and international law, cannot be admissible in court.

In January, during testimony in court, Vahan Hovanessian reported that in 1995 at the request of the ARF, he met with Armenia's Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsian on two separate occasions. According to Hovanessian, during those meetings, Sargsian insisted that the ARF "repent and confirm that in his televised speech of December 28, 1995, Levon Ter-Petrossian was telling the truth." Agreeing to Sargsian's terms was the only way to resume

the party's activities in Armenia, Hovanessian said in court, adding that Sargsian offered to mediate between the ARF and Ter-Petrossian. However, such a meeting never took place, he said.

During a press conference in late March, ARF Executive Council of Armenia representatives announced that ARF Executive Council member and "Trial of 31" defendant Vahan Hovanessian has been registered as a candidate in the Armavir region for an open seat National Assembly by-election. This move was to re-assert Hovanessian's presence in Armenia's political life, explained the ARF representatives.