ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN SEEKS POLITICAL REFUGE
A1+
[02:14 pm] 22 May, 2008
Zhirayr Sefilian, a prominent Nagorno-Karabakh war veteran and
former commander of Shushi Special Battalion, who is presently under
detention, addressed a letter to the President of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) Bako Sahakian.
"Last year I addressed to the President of NKR with a request to
be granted a Nagorno-Karabakh Republic citizenship. I was replied
that my letter would be considered only after the adoption of the
"Law on NKR Citizenship", and the consideration of such claims was
temporarily frozen."
With the present letter I re-affirm my desire to have a NKR citizenship
and my readiness to submit another application when the "Law on NKR
Citizenship" has been adopted."
It was also stated in Sefilian’s letter that he was presently under
detention for carrying a weapon granted to him by the leaders of the
NKR Defense Army as a martial award.
"Let me inform you that I have definitely been suffering political
persecution since 2006 and I am still in pursuit. They are currently
working on the plan of expelling me from Armenia. And because of my
love and devotion to my country I kindly request a political refuge
from Nagorno-Karabkh Republic. I truly hope that Artsakh will not
turn me down", Sefilians says in his letter.