"I AM NEITHER A SPY NOR A BETRAYER"
A1Plus.am
May 03, 2010
Ernest Vardanyan, a journalist of Armenian origin, arrested in the
Republic of Transdniestria, has appealed for help on May 2, for his
wife and two under-age children, saying Transdniestria National
Security Service employees threaten to "settle a physical score"
with them, and he is being tortured.
"In the name of all saints, please, save my wife and my children. They
make me confess that I have spied and betrayed the homeland
(Transdniestria) in favor of Moldova. They beat me periodically and
threat that they would apply to more ‘inventive’ tortures, which leave
no traces. They threaten to settle a physical score with my wife and
my children," the journalist said in a statement circulated through
security guards.
I am not a spy and I have betrayed no one. I simply said the truth
to improve the life of ordinary people. During the examination they
ascribed the charges of betrayal and espionage to me. "You are to
blame yourself. We had warned you not to give further details and
now it is too late to return," they said.
Vardanyan asks "not to believe in falsely staged interrogation videos
and trumped-up charges. They can ascribe charged to everyone here. I
am forced to give evidence against people criticizing the authorities.
Please, help me to find a good advocate and believe my innocence even
if I publically plead guilty in videos and legal proceeding.
For the sake of his family’s security, I am ready to "plead guilty
and be imprisoned as much as the special bodies and authorities need."
Vardanyan, 33, was arrested on April 7 on charges of espionage for
Moldova and may face 12-20 years in prison.
The Armenian journalist freelanced for the Russian Internet news
agency Novy Region (in the unrecognized Republic of Transdniestria).
In 2009, he started to work also for the Chisinau-based newspaper Puls,
which caused irritation among Transdniestria authorities.