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.