Public and political figure Gegham Ohanyan has begun an indefinite sit-in on Baghramyan Avenue, demanding the release of Arthur Osipyan, chairman of the Artsakh Revolutionary Party.
Ohanyan said he does not personally know Osipyan and is taking this step as a protest against what he considers injustice, according to Sputnik Armenia.
The sit-in is being held on Baghramyan Avenue near the Baghramyan metro station.
“I am starting a sit-in and have come here as a citizen. No election campaign or other political process can interfere with this. Many opposition political forces will try to use my action to gain political dividends, but that is out of the question. Those who join my sit-in should not bring propaganda machinery or election campaigning here. I do not know Arthur Osipyan personally, and only two days ago learned that he has two minor children. In reality, he was arrested simply because he was displaced from Artsakh and dared to ask a question to a candidate for prime minister,” Ohanyan said.
Earlier, Osipyan’s lawyer, Davit Hovhannisyan, reported that his client, who is being held at Nubarashen Penitentiary, has been on a hunger strike for 13 days and is in a significantly weakened condition. According to the lawyer, Osipyan is demanding that Nikol Pashinyan apologize for calling him a “runaway” and insulting his dignity.
It became known on May 21 that a two-month detention order had been imposed on Osipyan as a preventive measure.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against him under Article 330, Part 2, Clause 3 of the Criminal Code (public calls for violence, public justification or promotion of violence, as well as dissemination of materials or objects for that purpose), Article 297, Part 1 (hooliganism), and Article 211, Part 1 (coercing a person to engage in or refrain from election campaigning, or otherwise obstructing campaigning).
The case is currently before the Court of Appeal, where both the detention order and a special review petition have been challenged.
