"This is the psychology of a terrorist"
"Heritage" Party views Tigran Postanjyan as a political hostage.
"Postanjyan wasn't sentenced to prison for his political views, but was taken hostage for his sister, Zaruhi Postanjyan's and his party's activism. This is the psychology of a terrorist and is not honorable for our authorities," head of "Heritage" faction Stepan Safaryan told "A1+".
Tigran Postanjyan is charged with "receiving illegal payment" from a public servant who wasn't an official.
Speaking of the ensuing trial on Tigran Postanjyan's case, Stepan Safaryan said he would set aside the vengeance with political motives and under the veil of crime because he saw a clear tendency.
"Yesterday's trial was brilliant proof of that. The eyewitnesses, including the prosecutors, found themselves in a ridiculous situation."
Yesterday, on behalf of "Heritage" Party, Mr. Safaryan issued a statement stating that their partisan, MP Zaruhi Postanjyan's brother Tigran Postanjyan, who has been under arrest for 86 days, has declared a hunger strike against the inhumane and humiliating treatment at "Nubarashen" Penitentiary.
Stepan Safaryan today told "A1+" that Tigran Postanjyan's protest is also in defense of other prisoners at the penitentiary.
Stepan Safaryan also informed that the prisoners sleep in turns in their cells. "One of the beds is located near the window in Tigran Postanjyan's cell. It is always open due to the smoke of cigarettes. It is intolerable and Tigran Postanjyan's hunger strike is against those conditions."
According to Safaryan's data, there are insects in Tigran Postanjyan's cell and they are exterminated with chemical substances in the presence of prisoners. Safaryan says there are prisoners who haven't committed heavy crimes and that this is a much heavier burden for the government. RA Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmasyan has stated this several times and the draft law on changes in the Criminal Code are currently being circulated in the National Assembly.
Touching upon the possible release of all political prisoners before the ANC's next rally on May 31, Stepan Safaryan said he wouldn't like to believe that the release of the 6 political prisoners is one of the solutions to the issue at hand and that they shouldn't have been sentenced to prison in the first place.
Stepan Safaryan doesn't think Tigran Postanjyan will be released by May 31. "Yesterday's trial didn't go to show the authorities' desire to hold a free trial because the eyewitnesses' testimonies were out of the prosecutor's control."
