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VETERANS V. COURT: SUPPORTERS CALL FOR RELEASE OF RETIRED COLONEL
http://www.armenianow.com/society/48798/armenia_army_veterans_volodya_avetisyan_zhirayr_se filyan
SOCIETY | 27.09.13 | 15:47
Photolure
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Comrades-in-arms and friends of retired army colonel Volodya Avetisyan,
in custody for "cheating and money misappropriation", have circulated
a petition to appeal the general jurisdiction court decision at the
Court of Appeals, by which the war veteran was denied a bail-out. More
than 350 people have signed the petition.
The war veteran council state that they are not defeated by
Avetisyan's arrest - he initiated and led a series of sitting strikes
and civil protests demanding improvement of their social conditions
and legislative changes to consolidate the reform.
"We want to inform the authorities that we will not be taking the
path they choose for us. Parallel to supporting Volodya Avetisyan we
will continue our fight for decent social conditions for our fellow
veterans, their families and the families of the deceased freedom
fighters," members of the Freedom Fighters' council, rallied at
Republic Square, told the press Friday.
Avetisyan together with a group of fellow veterans declared a sit-in
in Yerevan's Liberty Square in May, which later grew into a more
structured and united stand-off demanding improvement of their social
conditions and legislative changes to consolidate the reform, has been
charged with fraud. On September 20, the Defense Ministry reported that
"by cheating and abuse of trust Avetisyan has misappropriated $2,000
under the pretence of support to citizen H. Zakaryan in releasing
his grandson from compulsory army conscription."
"Khachakir" NGO leader Gagik Sarukhanyan raised the issue of those who
gave and took a bribe, after he had declared that Avetisyan's case was
"fake".
"Even if the charge is accurate, which we do not believe, there is till
someone who gave a bribe and there is a mediator - they are trying to
turn Avetisyan into one - and there is the person who took the bribe
to free that young man from army service. Now, how come those who
bribed and got bribed are free, and Avetisyan is under arrest?" he
said, adding: "The case is clearly connected with the issues raised
by Avetisyan, who with his standoff demonstrated the true face of the
authorities unable to resolve even tiny issues. He hit a weak point,
hence it made sense to neutralize him."
It is worth mentioning that retired lieutenant colonel Samvel
Lazarian and "Pre-Parliament" secretariat member, Shushi special
division commander Zhirayr Sefilyan both claim that during the four
months of the veterans' standoff Avetisyan was repeatedly offered a
bribe by various people to stop his civil activities. Sefilyan says
"if Avetisyan's persecution continues" he will name those who offered
bribes.
Avetisyan has refused to tell anything to the investigative body and,
his attorney says, will soon make a public statement.
http://www.armenianow.com/society/48798/armenia_army_veterans_volodya_avetisyan_zhirayr_se filyan
SOCIETY | 27.09.13 | 15:47
Photolure
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Comrades-in-arms and friends of retired army colonel Volodya Avetisyan,
in custody for "cheating and money misappropriation", have circulated
a petition to appeal the general jurisdiction court decision at the
Court of Appeals, by which the war veteran was denied a bail-out. More
than 350 people have signed the petition.
The war veteran council state that they are not defeated by
Avetisyan's arrest - he initiated and led a series of sitting strikes
and civil protests demanding improvement of their social conditions
and legislative changes to consolidate the reform.
"We want to inform the authorities that we will not be taking the
path they choose for us. Parallel to supporting Volodya Avetisyan we
will continue our fight for decent social conditions for our fellow
veterans, their families and the families of the deceased freedom
fighters," members of the Freedom Fighters' council, rallied at
Republic Square, told the press Friday.
Avetisyan together with a group of fellow veterans declared a sit-in
in Yerevan's Liberty Square in May, which later grew into a more
structured and united stand-off demanding improvement of their social
conditions and legislative changes to consolidate the reform, has been
charged with fraud. On September 20, the Defense Ministry reported that
"by cheating and abuse of trust Avetisyan has misappropriated $2,000
under the pretence of support to citizen H. Zakaryan in releasing
his grandson from compulsory army conscription."
"Khachakir" NGO leader Gagik Sarukhanyan raised the issue of those who
gave and took a bribe, after he had declared that Avetisyan's case was
"fake".
"Even if the charge is accurate, which we do not believe, there is till
someone who gave a bribe and there is a mediator - they are trying to
turn Avetisyan into one - and there is the person who took the bribe
to free that young man from army service. Now, how come those who
bribed and got bribed are free, and Avetisyan is under arrest?" he
said, adding: "The case is clearly connected with the issues raised
by Avetisyan, who with his standoff demonstrated the true face of the
authorities unable to resolve even tiny issues. He hit a weak point,
hence it made sense to neutralize him."
It is worth mentioning that retired lieutenant colonel Samvel
Lazarian and "Pre-Parliament" secretariat member, Shushi special
division commander Zhirayr Sefilyan both claim that during the four
months of the veterans' standoff Avetisyan was repeatedly offered a
bribe by various people to stop his civil activities. Sefilyan says
"if Avetisyan's persecution continues" he will name those who offered
bribes.
Avetisyan has refused to tell anything to the investigative body and,
his attorney says, will soon make a public statement.