Armenia: defendant in "Case of Seven" needs hospitalization

Ombudsman in Armenia Armen Arutyunyan has addressed Gevork Danielyan, Minister of Justice of Armenia, with a request to transfer Deputy Sasun Mikaelyan, accused under the "Case of Seven", who is suffering from cardiac insufficiency, into the prison hospital. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it at the press service of the oppositional Armenian National Congress.

Recently, the health condition of Sasun Mikaelyan, who had a heart attack several years ago, has sharply worsened, and the prison administration had to call a first aid ambulance.

It was already reported that Ovik Arsenyan, Mikaelyan's advocate, addressed Ashot Martirosyan, head of the Department of Criminal Corrective Establishments of the Ministry of Justice,  with a request to extend the working hours of the prison medical office, so that prompt medical aid could be rendered to Mr Mikaelyan, as he needs permanent medical care.

In these latter days Mikaelyan had heart attacks accompanied by increased blood pressure and headaches. He was visited in the prison by employees of the Ombudsman's office, who later informed Mr Arutyunyan about their impressions.

Earlier, it was reported about aggravated health condition of another imprisoned Deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia Akop Akopyan.

On January 22, Ombudsman Armen Arutyunyan addressed Gevork Danielyan, Minister of Justice of Armenia with a request to consider a possibility to transfer Mr Akopyan to the prison for medical examination. The Ombudsman referred to the report of his employees that Akop Akopyan was diagnosed sharply expressed dysbacteriosis and suffered from kidney and intestine pains.

In response to the Ombudsman's letter, Minister Danielyan ordered the prison administration to ensure conditions for the Deputy to receive the required medical aid, including visits to Akopyan of his personal doctor. It became known to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from the press service of the Armenian National Congress that Akop Akopyan has already been transferred to the prison hospital.