In Armenia, young oppositionist goes on termless hunger strike

Oppositionist Tigran Arakelyan, 18, kept in custody since July 5, has announced today that he refuses from medical held, and starting September 10 will go on termless dry hunger strike.

"I apologize to the members of the Armenian National Congress and to the first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who are urging me, considering my health condition, not to resort to the extreme way of protest. However, I stick to my final opinion and start my termless dry hunger strike," runs Tigran Arakelyan's statement.

The activist of the youth wing of Armenian opposition emphasizes that from the date of his detention till today not a single investigatory action was undertaken in his relation. He also asserts that the body in charge of the proceedings has failed to present any reasonable argument in support of extending his custody; however the court, having satisfied the inspector's petition, has extended his custody by two months.

"The authorities have finally proved that they keep me as a political hostage. I'm persecuted exclusively for my political views. My custody as a hostage is a crime, committed not against me personally, but against all youth activists and the whole society. From the very start, they wanted to frighten and shut up the youth. To their regret, they failed," the young oppositionist wrote.