Aravot.am interviewed “Tseghakron” party leader Shant Harutyunyan’s son, Shahen Harutyunyan. The question referred to the recent release of the persons detained during the former regime, the main point of which was why Shant Harutyunyan’s case did not have a progress.
Let us remind you that 12 out of 14 protestors were sentenced from 1,5 to 7 years on the case of Mashtots Ave. clashes in 2013. Except for Shant Harutyunyan, the rest were released earlier upon the decision of the court – a part of them on an open regime of punishment.
Shahen Harutyunyan mentioned first and foremost that it was a fake case with a fake trial of political characteristics: “We have consumed all courts of Armenia. Now we wait for the ECHR decision.”
As mentioned by Shahen Harutyunyan, he heard that the political prisoners should importantly apply to the courts or the government for their preventive means to be changed: “That approach is unacceptable to me, inasmuch as the political prisoner should not be amnestied, but granted a decision of justification. Inasmuch as the person has struggled for his political views, sacrificed himself for the sake of his fatherland and been sentenced, hasn’t he? Granting a release to the political prisoner is not moral and logical.”
According to Shahen Harutyunyan, the advocates asked why they did not apply to the government: “Prior to coming to power Nikol Pashinyan was announcing that political prisoners existed in the Republic of Armenia and in the result of the victory of the public movement, no political prisoners would remain in the country. The candidate of the people has come to power now. You want us to apply to him with the request of solving the issue of political prisoners..? No, he had initially announced about the political prisoners and we stood beside him in the public fight. Why do they expect us to apply to the government now? It is unacceptable to us.”
Shahen believes if the new authorities have a political will, then they will initiate legal means to release Shant Harutyunyan. Our interviewee mentioned that Shant Harutyunyan is against the releases of any types, including early release, except the justification decision. And he will accept amnesty very negatively: “Amnesty is also forgiving, but he has not made a crime for which he should be amnestied. They have applied violence against us and we have defended ourselves. It the authorities think he is a political prisoner, he should be released legally,” summed up Shahen Harutyunyan.
Luiza SUKIASYAN
