Over 300 come out to support Shant Harutyunyan in Yerevan

Today, Yerevan has hosted a march in support of Shant Harutyunyan, the leader of the "Tsegarkon" Party, and other detainees after the "Million Mask March". Over 300 marchers have demanded to lift the ban imposed on detainees to see their relatives, subject them to fair trial and release them.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that policemen detained Harutyunyan on November 5, 2013, at the "Million Mask March", when the marchers entered an opposition with the police. On December 25, 2013, the court placed Harutyunyan and 19 other marchers behind bars. After they banned relatives' visits, the arrested politician went on hunger strike. Then two other arrested marchers – Liparit Petrosyan and Vage Mkrtchyan – joined his protest. On January 10, Harutyunyan stopped his hunger strike.

In Armenia, those, "who oppose the regime are deprived of freedom; in this way the authorities want to exert pressure on these people," said Gevorg Safaryan, an activist. In his opinion, Armenia has no fair justice; and the General Prosecutor' Office is "just fulfilling orders of the regime."

Suzie Simonyan, a member of the Initiative "Pre-Parliament", has noted that the Foundation "Law and Assistance" founded last December is keeping in the focus of attention the cases of Shant Harutyunyan and other detainees, and will help political prisoners' families.

The marchers have noted that they will persistently demand from the authorities to release the detainees after the "Million Mask March"; and the today's march will not be the last one.