Rescue Committee created
The "Armenian Civil Society" Human Rights Defense Association declares the political prisoners of the "Case of Seven", as well as Gagik and Vardan Jhangiryan as "Political Hostages" of the political elite. According to today's release, the life and health of the political prisoners are in real danger.
With that purpose, the Los Angeles-based association has taken the initiative to form the Rescue Committee for Shant Harutyunyan, other accused of the "Case of Seven, as well as Gagik and Vardan Jhangiryan with the following line-up: Vardan Iskandaryan, Harutyun Harutyunyan, Davit Vardanyan, Vahe Tchughuryan and Karo Karapetyan, who is head of the association, advocate and coordinator of the Los Angeles association.
The Rescue Committee views the issue of saving Shant Harutyunyan and the mentioned political prisoners not only as the issue of their relatives and RA citizens, but also that of all mankind.
The committee demands the following from the Armenian authorities, the Ministry of Justice and the court: "The immediate transfer of Shant Harutyunyan from the psychiatric hospital to a civil one, terminate the political persecution against him and the remaining political hostages and not apply other means of imprisonment."
The Committee calls on all RA citizens, Armenian communities of the Diaspora, all legal defense organizations involved in issues concerning human rights and freedoms to support the "Political Hostages" Rescue Committee.
The "Armenian Civil Society" Human Rights Defense Association informs that former political prisoners of the USSR have joined the statement, including
1. Yuri Orlov- scholar of the USSR, political prisoner of the USSR, New York, USA
2. Vladimir Bukovski- political prisoner of the USSR (has been exchanged with head of the Central Committee of Chili), London, England
3. Yuri Agayev- former political prisoner of the USSR, New Jersey, USA
4. Shahen Harutyunyan- former political prisoner of the USSR, Los Angeles, USA
