Narek Mantashyan is Under Torture, Lawyers Say

Narek Mantashyan is currently being subjected to torture in prison. This statement was made by the lawyers of Narek Mantashyan, who is a member of the ‘Armenia’ alliance and the head of the ‘Alternative’ NGO.

“We just exited the prison. Since 1 am last night, Narek Mantashyan has experienced exacerbations of his health condition and requested to contact his lawyers and be transferred to a hospital or receive medical assistance. However, the prison authorities did not allow him to make the call, as the National Security Service has imposed a prohibition on the right to make phone calls, and the head of the medical service (shown in the right photo, Garegin Sargsyan) replied that he must wait until Monday for his return from leave to decide whether to transfer him to a hospital or not, and there is no doctor providing appropriate treatment in prison,” the lawyers stated.

This constitutes a serious violation of human rights and is, in fact, a punishment against Narek Mantashyan. We, his lawyers, see a politically motivated order behind this. There is no other reason available to us for such inhumane treatment. Although there has already been an operational response, I once again call on the Human Rights Defender of Armenia's attention. We urge the Ministry of Justice of Armenia to exercise sobriety. You are leading Narek Mantashyan to a slow death. Aside from health issues, the deprivation of his right to contact his lawyers is another gross deviation from constitutional and international legal obligations,” said Mantashyan's lawyers, Aleksandr Kochubey and Tatevik Hakobyan.

It should be noted that Narek Mantashyan has been charged under Articles 225, parts 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia for organizing mass riots and committing violence during them, conducting destruction or arson, damaging or destroying property, using weapons, explosives or explosive devices, or armed resistance against a representative of power.