VEDI RESIDENT BEGINS SIT-IN WITH HER 2 CHILDREN IN FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

03.02.2015 17:52 epress.am

Today, Vedi resident Ani Harutyunyan, with her two children (2 years
old and 2 months old), began a sit-in in front of the Presidential
Palace demanding that her husband be transferred to an open prison
regime, allowing him to leave the prison during the day in order
to work.

“I’m not asking for them to give me a place to stay or money to keep
the children. Let them implement an open prison regime, so my husband
goes out and works in order to support our children,” said Harutyunyan
to an Epress.am journalist.

Ani Harutyunyan’s husband Mihran Janigulyan was sentenced to 6.5
years imprisonment in 2012 for hooliganism; Janigulyan argued with his
father-in-law and hit him. His father-in-law Norayr Harutyunyan, was
also in front of the Presidential office, and decided to participate
in the sit-in with his daughter. He noted that, as the plaintiff,
he demands nothing from his son-in-law, and wishes that he comes out
and supports his family.

“There is also a 200,000 AMD fine my husband must pay. The state says
you have to cover that debt and then maybe receive amnesty afterwards.

Let them implement an open prison regime in order for him to work
and he’ll cover the debt.”

According to Ani Harutyunyan, they conducted a sit-in last month in
front of the Presidential office, however the Yerevan police called
the Vedi police, who subsequently arrived and convinced them to stop
the sit-in.

“They said come and we’ll solve the issue. It’s been one month and
there’s nothing new. I went to the police, they said “we’re fed
up with you.” We didn’t ask them to help us, so they get fed up,”
said Harutyunyan.

This time the woman is prepared to continue her sit-in until the
issue is resolved.

Ani Harutyunyan lives with her children in a home given to her by
the Vedi municipality, which, according to her, is in a disastrous
situation. Norayr Harutyunyan is a veteran, he’s appealed to President
Serzh Sargsyan and Republican Party MP, general Manvel Grigoryan as
military buddies, however his attempt bore no fruit.

Norayr Harutyunyan explained that he was arrested on March 1st, 2008
and was charged with participating in a mass riot. He was released due
to health reasons. He had received a contusion during the Karabakh war.