“Criminal Possession of Weapons”: Charges Pressed Against Sixth Arrested Oppositionist

On Friday, April 10, criminal charges pursuant to Article 235 of the RA Criminal Code (illegal procurement, transportation or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices) were pressed against Aram Hakobyan, the sixth member of “Founding Parliament” civil initiative arrested on Tuesday, April 7. The Armenian law enforcement found a grenade on the roof of Hakobyan's house on the day of the arrest, authorities said. Other members of “Founding Parliament” have alleged that the grenade could have been planted there since the roof of Hakobyan's house is open. Bail was set at 500,000 AMD (about $1000) for the oppositionist. 

Five other arrested members of “Founding Parliament,” Jirayr Sefilian, Varuzhan Avetisyan, Garegin Chugaszyan, Gevorg Safaryan, and Pavel Manukyan, were sentenced to a two-month imprisonment on Thursday, April 9, on charges of organization of mass disorders. Sefilian, Avetisyanm and Manukyan have been transferred to Vardashen penitentiary, while Chugaszyan and Safaryan –  to Nubarashen penitentiary. 

Armenian National Congress faction MP Nikol Pashinyan met with the arrested oppositionists on Friday, April 10. On his Facebook page the politician wrote that “upon meeting political prisoners Sefilian, Avetisyan, and Manukyan at Vardashen prison,” he urged Manukyan to stop his hunger strike. The latter, as stated by Pashinyan, promised to think about it. The opposition MP was the first political figure to recognize the arrested “Founding Parliament” members as political prisoners.

While at Vardashen, Pashinyan also met with political prisoner Shant Harutyunyan. At Nubarashen penitentiary the politician met with Garegin Chugaszyan and Gevorg Safaryan, as well as the other men arrested in connection with Shant Harutyunyan's case; Vahe Mkrtchyan, Armen Hovhannisyan, Sevak Mnatsakanyan, Liparit Petrosyan, Hayk Harutyunyan, Avetis Avetisyan, Alek Poghosyan, Albert Margaryan.