THREATENING TO ‘SPOIL’: JAILED ARMENIAN EDITOR SAYS HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER

Aravot
Aug 22 2008
Armenia

The editor-in-chief of the Zhamanak Yerevan newspaper, Arman
Babajanyan, issued a statement on 11 August, saying that under
instructions from the authorities, the Department of Detentions has
decided to silence him.

"Moreover, the information that I have received from several sources
indicate that my security is under threat in prison." To substantiate
this decision, he pointed to the decision to transfer him from the
convicts’ hospital to Nubarashen prison [in Yerevan].

"According to the information I have received, I have serious
suspicions that the decision to transfer me to Nubarashen prison is
aimed at physically destroying or harming me in a closed prison cell,"
Babajanyan said, withholding the names of the officials who have been
so instructed and have agreed to carry out this task.

However, Aravot has found out that this statement was made after a
video tape showing how criminals "spoil" convicts by forced sexual
acts was given to Babajanyan. Babajanyan was warned that the same
could happen to him. This video will be posted on youtube soon.