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Court upholds two-month restraint for FP member Gevorg Safaryan

Politics
himnadir6

The Criminal Court of Appeal today upheld the decision of a Yerevan court to send member of the Founding Parliament movement Gevorg Safaryan to two-month custody. Safaryan has been on hunger strike for five days now. He is said to have started the strike after being subjected to tortures in prison. “He may have resorted to hunger strike as a result of pressure, but I cannot say definitely whether it is determined by his political views or some other circumstances. The attitude of prison officials and the conditions in wards, even the influence of external forces can force inmates to different actions. Everything can happen,” said lawyer Gevorg Davtyan. Six members of the Founding Parliament movement - Zhirayr Sefilyan, Pavel Manukyan, Garegik Chukaszyan, Varuzhan Avetisyan, Gevorg Safaryan and Aram Hakobyan - were arrested on April 7 on suspicion of planning to stir up ‘mass disturbances’ at the sites of genocide centenary commemorations on April 24. The Investigative Committee accused the FP members of urging supporters to disobey and even attack security forces on April 24. Aram Hakobyan was charged with keeping arms and ammunition, but was released on bail. The other five members were taken into two-month custody pending trial.