In Armenia, oppositionist left in custody despite health problems

The general court of communities Kentron and Nork-Marash in Armenia has ruled to extend by two months the arrest of Aram Karapetyan, leader of the opposition party "New Times". Cardiologists from Austria assert that the detainee's health is "in increased risk zone."

Today, the press service of the "New Times" Party has promulgated a news message that the situation with A. Karapetyan's health has interested two leading Austrian cardiologists from Cardiology Centres located in Wels and Linz. Professors Christian Punzengruben and Michael Grund have stated in their opinion prepared on the data received from the "Erebuni" clinic of Yerevan that the health of Aram Karapetyan "is in increased risk zone, hence, he needs immediate and long treatment at a specialized medical centre equipped with the necessary equipment."

The party leaders have disseminated the data about the state of health of their chairman in media by a special letter. The data was presented by Associate Professor Armen Gasparyan, the cardiologist who had examined Karapetyan.

The statement of the press service of the "New Times" Party expresses gratitude to all the doctors ready to render medical aid to Aram Karapetyan.

Earlier, the Criminal-Enforcement Department of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia had made public the diagnose that was put by the "Erebuni" Medical Centre to imprisoned Aram Karapetyan: "Ischemic heart disease, stable stenocardia, functional class III-IV, blood circulation insufficiency, functional class I. Arterial hypertension and hypertonic crisis."