Two inmates continue hunger strike
Two of the four inmates, who started hungerstrike in Nubarashen prison on October 22, still continue the protest.
Vardan Demirchyan and Karen Taroyan, who earlier cut off his little finger amid the hungerstrike, are protesting against prison conditions and punishments given to them.
"The inmates are in separate prison cells and under doctors' surveillance. The prison administration and employees of psychological and legal departments frequently visit them. Recently, representatives of the Ombudsman's Office came to talk to the protesters," says Gor Ghlechyan, a spokesperson for the Justice Ministry's Penitentiary Department.
Vardan Demirchyan is awaiting trial on charges of throwing a hand grenade at a Yerevan nightclub this spring. He wants to be moved to another prison cell for unspecified safety reasons.
Karen Taroyan was convicted in May 2005 under Article 112 of the Criminal Code (infliction of heavy damage to health that resulted in careless death).
"Taroyan was sentenced to nine years in prison and has already served seven and a half years of the prison term," said Mr Ghlechyan.
