Epress.am News from Armenia
Today, November 12, HSBC Bank employee and three-year imprisoned Ashot Arushanyan's parents have begun an indefinite sit-in and hunger strike across the street from the Presidential Palace, near the Marshal Baghramyan Metro.
They brought a couch and armchairs to the site of the sit-in, placing their posters next to the furniture. Yesterday, the Arushanyans and their supporters conducted a protest near the Presidential Palace, demanding that President Serzh Sargsyan secure a fair investigation for their son.
In June of this year, Ashot Arushanyan was sentenced to 5 and a half years imprisonment. According to the most recent accusations, on November 21, 2011, the defendant, Edgar Karakeshishyan, organized to steal 56 million AMD ($135,000) from the car of Manana Grain company’s deputy director Armen Manukyan, while information about the transfer of money was given by Arushanyan. Karakeshishyan was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. Artashes Galustyan was also charged, but was set free and subsequently found dead after committing suicide in his home.
According to Ashot Arushanyan’s father, Lavrenti Arushanyan, the only proof against his son is a testimony obtained through torture.