Investigative body refuses petition to transfer Vahan Shirkhanyan to hospital
The investigative body has denied a petition filed by the lawyer of Vahan Shirkhanyan, a former deputy defense minister of Armenia, asking to transfer his client to a civil hospital for treatment. Talking to A1+, lawyer Stepan Voskanyan said they were told that the answer was to be given by the Penitentiary Department of Armenia Justice Ministry. The lawyer has already addressed a letter to Major General Artur Osipyan, Head of the Penitentiary Department. In the letter, the lawyer said Shirkhanyan needs an urgent medical examination and asked Osipyan to grant permission to take Shirkhanyan to the V. Avagyan Medical Centre Vahan Shirkhan was arrested on December 19, 2015, on suspicion of aiding a criminal gang led by Artur Vardanyan. On November 25, 2015, law enforcement agencies raided a house in Yerevan and arrested nine individuals, including Artur Vardanyan. The National Security Service (NSS) announced the gang was planning to carry out a series of serious crimes in Armenia. Shirkhanyan has undergone surgery at the Avagyan Medical Centre to treat varicose veins in one leg. He has a blood clot in his other leg and is unable to walk and move. Stepan Voskanyan says there is a threat to his life.
