Armenia: art workers and militaries ask President to release Mikaelyan

A group of Armenian military commanders and well-known figures of arts have addressed President Serzh Sargsyan with an appeal to release Sasun Mikaelyan, an activist of the opposition and one of notable Armenian commanders of the Karabakh War, from custody.

In an open letter addressed to the President, musical conductor Ogan Duryan, actors Vardui Varderesyan and Ervand Manaryan, singer Araks Davtyan petition for setting Mikaelyan free.

"Knowing about Sasun Mikaelyan's heroic past, we can't keep silent and not move demands to incumbent Serzh Sargsyan. A person should not be arrested for his political views and to continue persecuting him in custody. This inhuman treatment of the hero of the Karabakh War deserves no mercy. What lesson do we teach to our future generations? We demand immediate release of Sasun Mikaelyan and giving him a chance to restore health in normal conditions," runs the letter.

On December 1, well-known Armenian militaries - General-Colonel Gurgen Dalibaltayan and General-Major Arkadiy Ter-Tadevosyan - also addressed President Sargsyan with an appeal to help in releasing Sasun Mikaelyan.

In reply to the generals' letter, Samvel Farmanyan, press secretary of the President of Armenia, said that the President has no such powers.