Epress.am News from Armenia
Mamikon Khojoyan, 77, a resident of the village of Verin Karmiraghbyur in Tavush marz (province) who returned to Armenia on March 4 after being held captive in Azerbaijan, died yesterday, Armenia's first Ombudsman, Against Legal Tyranny NGO President Larisa Alaverdyan informed Panorama.am [AM].
According to her, Khojoyan's captors injected a substance into his blood that was "dangerous to his life and health" and which, apparently, was the cause of death.
Alaverdyan expressed her condolences to Khojoyan's family, adding that they will be monitoring progress of the case in the European Court of Human Rights.
Recall, Khojoyan was captured on January 28, 2013. Under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Khojoyan was transferred to Armenia on March 4. He received treatment in hospital. According to doctors, he had many bruises, injuries and fractures on his body.
Several news sites reported Khojoyan's death, including Pastinfo.am [AM], which cited Verin Karmiraghbyur village mayor Kamo Chobanyan, who said that Mamikon Khojoyan's health severely deteriorated a week ago — to the point where it was impossible even to move him to the Berd city hospital. Doctors from the hospital came to visit him every day and change his dressings, but the elderly man was unconscious for a few consecutive days, didn't recognize his relatives, and refused to eat or drink anything.
"The injuries and torture obtained while in captivity led to this outcome," said the mayor.