Zaruhi Postanjyan urges Cabinet members to visit Vardges Gaspari (video)
During the Armenian government’s question-and-answer session in the parliament, lawmaker Zaruhi Postanjyan called everyone’s attention to the condition of jailed civil activist Vardges Gaspari. She reminded the Cabinet members that in the morning Gaspari was taken to a psychiatric hospital for forensic examination. His lawyers’ motioned to cancel the illegal examination after which Gaspari was taken back to his cell. “As Gaspari reports from prison they pour cold water on him and systematically beat him in the cell. Dear representatives of the government, no one is guaranteed against such behaviour. I just urge you to go to the prison and find out what is going on there and take urgent measures to see Gaspari at large as soon as possible,” she said. Answering her question, Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan said Gaspari was kept in a cell where there were other inmates. He lay on the ground and had some disagreement with the other inmates. Therefore, he was taken to a separate cell with one more inmate. “The investigator requested that he [Gaspari] undergo psychiatric examination. I want to assure you that until now Gaspari has not made any claim about his health problems. Moreover, I instructed doctors to see him and inquire about his health but Gaspari said he had no complaints,” she said promising to clarify all details and inform the lawmaker.
