Armenia sets up Committee in Defence of Political Prisoners

The establishment of the Committee in Defence of Political Prisoners and Repressed Persons was announced today at the press conference that took place in the office of the People's Party of Armenia. The proclaimed aim of Committee is to provide every assistance to political prisoners, including legal and material support, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The new Committee comprises human rights activist Vardan Arutyunyan, former commander of Shusha special battalion ex-combatant Zhirair Sefilyan, former vice-speaker of Armenian parliament Karapet Rubinyan, film director Tigran Hzmalyan, invalid of Karabakh war Arshavir Bazinyan and others.

It was announced at the press conference that the bank account opened several days ago by Arshavir Bazinyan will be considered to be the account of the Committee. The raised funds will go, in particular, to help the families of political prisoners.

Karapet Rubinyan has noted that many political prisoners are in custody for almost 4 months, and their families are in a heavy social situation. He has added that every parcel to the prisoner costs some 30-35 thousand drams (over 100 US dollars).

The former vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, who himself was released from custody not so long ago, has stated that "all those who believe that Armenia has political prisoners can be regarded to be members of the Committee."

Vardan Arutyunyan said in his presentation that according to the opposition, today Armenia has 82 political prisoners, 27 of them have received their guilty verdicts, the cases of 15 of them were reconsidered, but the defendants were not acquitted.

38 cases are now considered by courts, and the cases of other 17 arrested persons are in process of preliminary investigation.