Imprisoned Karabakh War Veteran Supporters Protest Outside President’s Office

Supporters of imprisoned Karabakh War veteran Volodya Avetisyan today held a protest on the sidewalk across the street from the president's office, demanding Avetisyan's release.

Accused of taking bribes and in pre-trial detention since September 20, 2013, Avetisyan doesn't admit the charges against him; moreover, he claims that the charges against him are a result of political persecution. 

In court recently, Avetisyan said that in May last year, when the sit-in demanding a better socioeconomic situation for Karabakh War veterans began, people from the wing of the ruling elite approached him and urged him to abandon the idea of a sit-in. Instead, they promised him money and a business, in both the capital and Etchmiadzin, as well as promising to reinstate him in the system. Avetisyan said he refused the offer. 

He said that he rejected the investigator's offer to be released on the condition that he stops protesting.