By Asbarez | Saturday, 30 October 2021
In a message to the Armenian people, Hampig Sassounian announced on Friday that he is in Armenia.
Sassounian had been serving a life sentence when he was convicted in 1984 for the 1982 murder of Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles Kemal Arikan. In 2002 a federal appeals court overturned a special circumstances finding in his sentence, making Sassounian eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.
Earlier this year, the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom decided to allow Sassounian’s release by waiving any further appeals of the court’s ruling which upheld the Parole Board’s decision to grant parole.
Read Hampig Sassounian's message below:
Dear Compatriots,
With the utmost happiness I am writing to you from Armenia.
After almost 40 years, I have the honor to be on Armenia’s soil, drink Armenia’s water, breathe its air and feel in a familial environment.
The support you have shown throughout the years has always encouraged me and has had a positive impact during my most difficult days.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who wrote to me, visited me and have always kept me in their hearts.
Finally, I am home.
With Love,
Hampig Sassounian
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