Epress.am News from Armenia
Jailed opposition activist Gevorg Safaryan’s health problems are not being properly taken care of, his lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan told Epress.am on Tuesday. Recall, Safaryan, a member of New Armenia and Founding Parliament anti-government movements who was sentenced to 2 years in prison early this year for assaulting a police officer, was diagnosed with bone spurs (osteophytes) in late April and, according to a statement by the Penitentiary Department of the Armenian Justice Ministry, was regularly receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment.
“His leg aches when he walks, and [Penitentiary Department spokesperson] Gor Ghlechyan’s claims that he is receiving proper treatment are simply untrue. Safaryan is unable to even take a step, and he needs an instrumental examination to find out the cause. At the last court hearing he could not even stand up, and the judge allowed him to remain seated when addressing the court,” Hayrapetyan said.
According to the lawyer, he appealed to the Penitentiary Department with a request to conduct an instrumental examination and ensure that Safaryan receives a proper treatment two months ago, but officials have yet to respond to the appeal.