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Tigran Postanjyan Starts Hunger Strike In Penitentiary

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  • Tigran Postanjyan Starts Hunger Strike In Penitentiary

    TIGRAN POSTANJYAN STARTS HUNGER STRIKE IN PENITENTIARY

    Tert.am
    16.05.11

    Tigran Postanjyan, who is the brother of Heritage MP Zaruhi
    Postanjyan and is currently under detention, has started a hunger
    strike, protesting against "inhuman and degrading conditions" at the
    Nubarashen penitentiary.

    On Monday the leader of the opposition Heritage party faction in
    parliament, Stepan Safaryan, sent a letter to Armenia's Human Rights
    Defender Karen Andreasyan, Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan and
    Chief of Police Alik Sargsyan, informing them about Postanjyan's
    hunger strike.

    Also in the letter, Safaryan says that the persecution Tigran
    Postanjyan is subjected has a political motive. According to him,
    it is aimed at exerting pressure on Tigran Postanjyan's sister,
    Zaruhi Postanjyan.

    Zaruhi Postanjyan has largely criticized the ruling authorities over
    various issues, including the Karabakh conflict and the tragic events
    of March 1, 2008 that left at least 10 killed and dozens wounded
    during the political unrest sparked after presidential elections.

    In the letter, Safaryan further says that Tigran Postanjyan is kept
    with 18 other inmates in a cell that occupies 25 square meters.

    Smokers and non-smokers are all kept in the same cell. They have also
    to sleep in turns due to shortage of place.

    Tigran Postanjyan is accused of "illegally demanding and taking money"
    (100,000 Armenian drams, around $274) from a state-run agency. He
    was arrested by National Security Service on February 23.

    Stepan Safaryan also said that the inmates sleep with clothes for fears
    of the insects in the cells. The inmates also develop insect-sting
    allergy, while the smell of the chemicals used against the insects
    makes breathing impossible in the cell.

    The law stipulates that each prisoner must have at least 4 square
    meters. While the situation in Nubarashen penitentiary, according
    to Safaryan, violates the Article 3 of European Convention on Human
    Rights.

    "We demand the elimination of these illegalities," read the letter.

    Safaryan further said that Zaruhi Postanjyan has raised alarm over
    her brother's arrest also at the Council of Europe.

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