Organization "Democracy for the Sake of Development" asks the authorities of Karabakh to help release the journalist arrested in Transdniestria

A non-governmental organization of Armenia "Democracy for the Sake of Development" has submitted an appeal to the President of Nagorno-Karabakh concerning Ernest Vardanyan, an Armenian journalist arrested in Transdniestria.

The appeal runs: "Taking into consideration friendly relations between the Republic of Artsakh and Transdniestria Republic we ask you to solicit for amnesty of the Armenian Journalist". They also state in the document that Ernest Vardanyan is experiencing physical and psychologic pressure and his wife and all his family are under threat, too.

David Babayan, Head of the President's Informational Department, remarked that it was rather strange to submit requests of this kind to the President for Ernest Vardanyan was not a Nagorno-Karabakh citizen.

It should be reminded that in April, 2010, Armen Arutiunyan, Ombudsman of Armenia, declared that he could not participate in the arrested journalist's case because Transdniestria Republic was an unacknowledged state, therefore his official interference would be incorrect from the point of view of international law.

According to him, he had asked Yury Airapetyan, Ombudsman of Nagorno-Karabakh, to step in this case for the latter had confirmed that he was concerned about Ernest Vardanyan's fate.

"Taking into consideration good relationship between Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Transdniestria Republic we appealed to Transdniestria Ombudsman's office asking him to visit the arrested journalist. Ernest Vardanyan put forth no complaints on his state of health or place of detention", Airapetyan said.