<div id="subtitle">Armenian court hands journalist 7-year prison sentence for orchestrating riots</div><div><p>A court in Armenia on Tuesday sentenced a journalist to seven years in prison for organizing mass unrest in the wake of the 2008 presidential elections.</p><p>Nikola Pashinian, editor of the Armenian Times opposition newspaper, was a central figure in mass rallies protesting the results of the February presidential poll. The protests turned violent and 10 people died while more than 250 were injured.</p><p>Pashinian fled the country shortly after the riots, but returned and surrendered to police in July. He denied wrongdoing and accused authorities of provoking the clashes.</p><p>Serge Sarkisian, who enjoyed the support of his predecessor Robert Kocharian, won the February vote.</p><p>Human rights organizations accused authorities and the police of excessive use of force in the 2008 clashes.</p><p>Washington-based watchdog Freedom House said in its annual report last week that human rights and political freedom have declined over the last year.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67265964&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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