Armenian Ombudsperson's office doubts legality of rejection of Volodya Avetisyan's CER

The commission that refused to grant the condition early relief (CER) to Volodya Avetisyan, a Karabakh War veteran, will receive a request from the office of Armenian Ombudsperson as to the reasons for such decision. Avetisyan continues his hunger strike in prison; and so far, he has no health problems, said Eranui Tumanyan, the Deputy Ombudsperson.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 20, 2013, Volodya Avetisyan, an active participant in the protests of Karabakh war veterans, was detained. Investigators accused him of fraud. On July 17, 2014, the court sentenced him to six years of imprisonment and a fine. On October 30 Volodya Avetisyan was denied his CER; and he went on hunger strike.

After announcement of a hunger strike, Volodya Avetisyan was visited by employees of the office of the Ombudsperson of Armenia. Avetisyan is kept in a separate cell intended for prisoners on hunger strike; his health condition is monitored by doctors, Eranui Tumanyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her story, so far the convict feels well and is not going to stop the hunger strike.

The Ombudsperson's office is concerned about the fact that the Armenian independent commission that had considered Avetisyan's CER, has made a negative decision for the second time. After examining all the documents, the office will ask the commission to provide the reasons for the refusal, said Tumanyan.

The staff of the office will monitor the situation and visit Avetisyan again soon to see his health condition, she added.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.