Armenian Political Prisoner Goes on Hunger Strike in Support of Jailed Oppositionists

Political Prisoner, leader of Armenian “Tseghakron” party Shant Harutyunyan has gone on an open-ended hunger strike at the Vardashen penitentiary on Thursday to support the demands of another jailed oppositionist Hayk Kyureghyan, Harutyunyan's son, Shahen Harutyunyan, wrote on his Facebook page. 

Kyureghyan, as stated in the note, launched a hunger strike seven days ago and has now moved on to a dry hunger strike. He, along with New Armenia opposition movement arrested member Gevorg Safaryan demand that authorities ensure their safety in prison. In an earlier issued statement, New Armenia had reported that Safaryan and Kyureghyan were being pressured by criminal elements in prison because of their political views.

Note, on January 21, a group of citizens visited foreign embassies and international organizations in Yerevan, calling their attention to Safaryan's and Kyureghyan's problems.

“With this action we're alerting about the physical danger to Gevorg Safaryan and Hayk Kyureghyan. The management of Nubarashen prison and Armenia's political authorities are ensuring that these two young men are placed in the same cell with criminals, who would keep them under constant pressure. International human rights organization Human Rights Watch has already appealed to the Armenian prosecutor's office, demanding Gevorg Safaryan's immediate release,” Karo Yeghnukyan, one of the organizers of the rally, told Epress.am.