13:11, 21 May 2008

In Armenia, supporters of the arrested oppositionist stop their hunger strike

Late at night on May 20, in Armenia, Rachya Sarkisyan and nine other supporters, four women among them, of the arrested Aram Karapetyan, leader of the "New Times" Party, stopped their hunger strike in response to the appeal of their leader.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that Aram Karapetyan, who is now in the "Erebuni" Medical Centre, asked his party colleagues to immediately stop the hunger strike. In particular, his address said: "Your energy is needed to me, people and Armenia. I'm sure you will find forms of struggle that won't damage your health."

The leader of the "New Times" Party has also expressed his deep gratitude to his party team-mates, who "demonstrated during hard times their readiness to render support and go to self-sacrifices."

Emmanuel Mkrtchyan, press secretary of the Party, has reported that the Russian Academy of Social Sciences sent a letter to the Embassy of Armenia in Moscow. The letter signed by 295 persons demands immediate release of Aram Karapetyan, who is a Corresponding Member of the Academy.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent