In Armenia, human rights defender initiates investigation into Zhirair Sefilyan's arrest

Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has requested from the law enforcement bodies to provide the explanation concerning the arrest of Zhirair Sefilyan, the leader of movement "100 years without regime", suspected of organizing illegal transportation and storage of weapons, and sent a team to visit him.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the arrest of Zhirair Sefilyan, the head of the joint staff of the opposition and the leader of the movement "100 years without regime", was reported on June 20. According to investigators, Zhirair Sefilyan with a group of people plotted an armed seizure of buildings and means of transportation and communication, including the Yerevan TV Tower.

Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has demanded from the investigating authorities to present the explanation concerning the arrest and prosecution of Zhirair Sefilyan. This has been told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by an official from the Office of the Ombudsman of Armenia.

"Besides, by the order of the Ombudsman, the operational team of the Ombudsman's Office was sent to the Yerevan temporary detention facility (IVS) of the Armenian Police to visit Zhirair Sefilyan," explained the official from the Ombudsman's Office.

Today, the arrested oppositionist was also visited by members of the monitoring group for public control in penitentiary institutions and bodies of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia.

"Zhirair Sefilyan has called his arrest 'a new act of political persecution'," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by a staff member of the office of the monitoring group.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.