Turkish FM welcomes US court decision denying release of Hampig Sassounian

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: The Turkish Foreign Ministry has welcomed the decision of a U.S. court to deny a probation request by Hampig Sassounian. Two similar requests were denied in 2006 and 2010. As reported by Armenpress, this was published by the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News.

Hampig Sassounian applied to the Court of the U.S State of California to provide him with a conditional release. However, the Commission for early release of prisoners rejected the petition.

Hampig Sassounian was a member of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA), who had been convicted for the murder of Los Angeles Consul General Kemal Arıkan in 1982, after which he was sentenced to life imprisonment. By now Hampig Sassounian has spent in prison for 31 years.