MORE PEOPLE JOIN HUNGER STRIKERS
Support A1+!Today detainees of penitentiary institutions have commenced a hunger strike as a protest action. In general, hunger-strikers fall into two groups. The first group, comprised of 20 people, has announced a one-day hunger strike. The second group of about 6 people has started a termless strike. The strikers have also issued a statement laying their claims.
They demand to “annul the presidential election of February 19, 2008,” to launch a free international investigation aimed at disclosing and punishing the wrongdoers of the March 1 bloody events, to release political prisoners, to cease political persecutions throughout the country, to restore citizens’ right to information, rallies, freedom of speech and other fundamental freedoms.
“The same claims are laid to the acting authorities, international structures and separate governments that support the Armenian authorities thus deepening the gap between the government and the society and leading the country to a political crisis,” the statement runs.
The statement is co-authored by Vladimir Arakelian, Marzpetuni Aivazian, Sayad Hovhannissian, Armen Grigorian, Shmavon Galstian and Yura Simonian.
Below are the arrestees who went on a one-day strike: Armenia’s former FM Alexander Arzumanian, former NA Speaker Karapet Rubinian, member of the Political Board of the “Hanrapetutiun” (Republic) Party Smbat Aivazian, MP Miasnik Malkhasian, Leader of the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) Ararat Zurabian, former deputy head of the National Security Services Gurgen Eghazarian, Leader of the “Democratic Homeland” Party Petros Makeyan and others. Reminder: Suren Sureniants has been on strike for already a week.
