Brother of Armenian captive ends sit-in outside government

Panorama, Armenia

Tigran Ambardaryan, the brother of Armenian soldier Mels Ambardaryan who was captured by Azerbaijani forces in Khtzaberd on December 13, announced the end of his sit-in strike outside the government building for now.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, he said they held a meeting with government officials, who promised to meet their demands.

"Today we were invited into the government and met with government officials. They listened to us and discussed the conditions we put forward. They are the following: 

1. To establish an ad hoc commission, which must have constant direct contact with the relatives of the captives (promised to be set up tomorrow, 25 June).

2. As a result of our discussions, we agreed to give extra time to the government to continue its efforts and to report about the work done in the near future.

If all the conditions discussed and the requirements are not met by mid-July, I will resume the sit-in strike and will hold more widespread protests with my friends," he wrote.

Tigran Ambardaryan announced an indefinite sit-in strike on Thursday morning, demanding that the Armenian government raise the issue of prisoners before Azerbaijan, stop fabricated trials against the Armenian captives in Baku and return them without any preconditions.

Relatives of other captured servicemen also joined the protest near the government.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS