Epress.am News from Armenia
On November 25, staffers of the Armenian Human Rights Ombudsman paid an emergency visit to Ararat Khandoyan in his cell at Yerevan's Nubarashen jail and discovered that a broken cell window had gone unreplaced by authorities. The inmate, according to a statement issued by the Ombudsman's office on Sunday, had covered the window with a pillow in an attempt to keep warm. “We immediately raised the issue with the management of the prison, and they replaced the window the same day,” the statement said.
Ararat Khandoyan is the brother of Nagorno-Karabakh war veteran Arayik Khandoyan, one of the three dozen members of the “Sasna Tsrer” anti-government group that seized a Yerevan police station in July to demand Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan's resignation and the release of Founding Parliament opposition movement Jirayr Sefilyan. He was arrested on July 21 during clashes between police and supporters of Sasna Tsrer and is being accused of taking part in mass disorders and using violence against a police officer.
Speaking to Epress.am, Khandoyan's lawyer, Ara Gharagyozyan, said that he has filed complaints with Armenia's Justice Ministry and the Ombudsman's office, demanding that administrative action be initiated against negligent prison officials.