The list of political prisoners who are currently persecuted, oppressed and detained for their political activity in Armenia:

1. Shant Arutunian – currently in jail, political prisoner. Head of “Tsekhakron” party; was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment. On November 5, 2013 organized a “March of Anonyms”. The police prevented the demonstration with an incident. Around 40 activists of the demonstration were arrested. 12 criminal cases were opened against some of them.

2. Shagen Arutunian – the son of Shant Arutunian, got 4 years of suspended sentence.

3. Vahe Mkrtchian – political prisoner, the supporter of Shant Arutunyan, was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment.

4. Ayk Kurakian - was arrested during the protest rally condemning the imprisonment of Shant Arutunian and beaten at the police department. Currently in jail, political prisoner.

5. Sevak Mnatsakian – political prisoner, was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunyan, was sentenced to 5,5 years of imprisonment.

6. Vardan Vardanian - lieutenant-colonel in reserve, was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment, the investigators threatened to send his son to Karabakh and kill him.

7. Liparit Petrosian- was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment.

8. Avetis Avetisian - was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment.

9. Ayk Arutunian - was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, sentenced to 4,5 years of imprisonment.

10. Aleks Pogosian- was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment.

11.Mkrtıch Ovanesian- was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment.

12.Armen Avanesian – was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, was serving at the Armenian army for 20 years, sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment.

13.Tigran Petrosian – was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunian, sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment.

14.Edgar Arakelian- member of “Justice Union”, was arrested due to his participation at the rally; his name was added to the list of political prisoners presented to the Council of Europe.

15.Lavrenti Kirakosian- member of “Justice Union”, was arrested due to his participation at the rally; his name was added to the list of political prisoners presented to the Council of Europe.

16.Martin Kazarian- member of “Justice Union”, was arrested due to his participation at the rally; his name was added to the list of political prisoners presented to the Council of Europe.

17.Tigran Ter-Markarian- member of “Justice Union”, was arrested due to his participation at the rally; his name was added to the list of political prisoners presented to the Council of Europe.

18.Karen Markarian- member of “Justice Union”, was arrested due to his participation at the rally; his name was added to the list of political prisoners presented to the Council of Europe.

19.Anushavan Grugorian- was arrested on the same day with Shant Arutunyan, was sent to hospital as a person suffering from mental illness.

20.Amayak Ovanesian- chairman of the Union of Armenian Political Analysts, complained about the political persecutions to the European Court.

21.Zarui Postanjanian - the member of Armenian Parliament, representing IRS group, was persecuted and numerously insulted for his speech in Strasbourg condemning the government of the country.

22.Suren Zoloyan- former rector of the University of Brusov, member of IRS party, was persecuted and charged at the illegitimate trial.

23.Vartan Oskanian- former Minister of Foreign Affairs, was accused of economic crime, criminal case was opened against him, was silenced after the investigation.

24.Ave Vahetiyan- political refugee, now living in Sweden. After returning to Yerevan was arrested in 2014 for the illegal gun carrying. Was released after the interference of the Swedish government. Blogger with a strict anti-Armenian position.

25.Tigran Arakelian- former political prisoner (released after the amnesty), political activist, member of Armenian National Congress.

26.Sarkis Gevorkian- political prisoner, political activist, member of Armenian National Congress.

27.David Kiramijian- political prisoner, political activist, member of Armenian National Congress.

28.Artak Karapetian- political prisoner, political activist, member of Armenian National Congress.

29.Gevorg Safarian- political activist, his car was burned by the representatives of the government, member of the “Predparliament” opposition movement.

30.Shagen Petrosian- member of the “Predparliament” opposition movement, his car was burned.

31.Vardan Akopian- member of the “Predparliament” opposition movement, his car was burned.

32.Varuzhana Avetisian - member of the “Predparliament” opposition movement, her car was burned.

33.Susanna Melkonyan - member of the “Predparliament” opposition movement, her car was burned.

34.Karo Egnukian- member of the “Predparliament” opposition movement, prevented the attempt of burning his car.

35.Miqran Margarian- political activist, was beaten to death by an unknown group of people, no measures were taken.

36.Babken Ter-Griqorian- political activist, was beaten to death by an unknown group of people, no measures were taken.

37.Arman Aleksanian - political activist, was beaten to death by an unknown group of people, no measures were taken.

38.Karen Arutunian- political activist, was beaten to death by an unknown group of people, no measures were taken.

39.Aykak Arshamian- political activist, was beaten to death by an unknown group of people, no measures were taken.

40.Suren Sagatelian- political activist, was beaten to death by an unknown group of people, no measures were taken.

41.Karen Arutunian- political activist, was one of 7 people, whose car was burned by the representatives of the government, member of the “Predparliament” opposition movement.

42.Vilen Gabrielian- political activist, facebook blogger, is being persecuted by the poilce, officially refused to testify to the police.

43.Nelson Voskanian- former mayor of Gorus of anti-government opinion, had a criminal case opened against him.

44.Artishti Kivirian- the coordinator of “Armenia Today”, has a criminal case opened against him.

45.Marina Khachatrian- the correspondent of “A1+” TV channel, was beaten by the head of security service of the Parliament, her camera was broken, but no criminal case was opened, the journalist’s complaint was counted as groundless.

46.Avet Barsegian- TV journalist, was fired for using the expression “political prisoners were released” during his programme.

47.Nikol Pashinian – political prisoner, the founder of “Haykakan Zhamanak” newspaper, was consecutively persecuted, oppressed and detained by the government.

48.Samson Kazarian- one of the former leaders of “Karabakh Committee”, criminal case based on an economic sabotage was opened against him, political prisoner.

49.Paruir Ayrikian- Sargsyan’s rival at the last presidential election; there was an attempt on his life, he was constantly persecuted by the government. He is the supporter of solving the Nagorno-Karabakh problem in accordance with the demands of Azerbaijan.

50.Vardan Sedrakian – former candidate for presidency in Armenia, according to the decision of the court was sentenced to two months of imprisonment.

51.Ani Gevorkian – correspondent at “Chorrord ishkhanutyun” newspaper, the policemen impeded in his activity, and he was brought to the police department by force.

52.Sarkis Gevorkian- cameraman at «iLur.am» news website, the policemen impeded in his activity, and he was brought to the police department by force.

53.Sarigs Atspanian- was accused of spreading secret information, stayed in prison until the last day as a political prison, refused from the amnesty.

54.Murad Bodzholian – specialist of Turkic studies, was accused for the cooperation with Turkish XXO, arrested in 2002.

55.Volodya Avetisian- Karabakh war veteran, political prisoner.

56.Vano Siragedian- former Minister of Internal Affairs (1992-1996); criminal case was opened against him, currently wanted by the police.

57.Sarqis Atspanian- political prisoner, several times was detained for a short period.

58.Sasun Mikaelian- was arrested after the events of 2008, political prisoner, currently at large, allegedly persecuted by the government.

59.Felix Gevorkian - was arrested after the events of 2008, political prisoner, currently at large, allegedly persecuted by the government.

60.Nairi Unanian- the participant of the terrorist incident in the Armenian Parliament in 1999.

61.Karen Unanian- Nairi’s brother, the participant of the terrorist incident.

62.Eduard Gruirorian – the participant of the terrorist incident in the Armenian Parliament in 1999.

63.Vram Galsttian- the participant of the terrorist incident in the Armenian Parliament in 1999.

64.Derenik Bejanian - the participant of the terrorist incident in the Armenian Parliament in 1999.

65.Vardges Gaspari- was detained 12 times for administrative, 1 crime and 2 civil cases; the cut of his disability pension, bringing of his young son to the police department did not stop his political and online activity against the government. He is the administrator of “Shnt” and “Liberty” facebook pages and does not think about looking for political asylum abroad.


“A 1 plus” TV channel, “Chorrard ishkhanutyun” (Fourth estate) newspaper were closed, the broadcast of “Radio Liberty” was stopped

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