Jirayr Sefilyan: They will continue to intimidate people (video)
A group of citizens gathered in front of the Criminal Court of Appeal with a demand to release jailed civil activist Gevorg Safaryan who is charged with using violence against a government representative. They gathered near the court to support Safaryan and his lawyer who filed a moption to requesting to release the activist on bail. Jirayr Sefilyan from the New Armenia opposition movement says the authorities cannot extend Safaryan’s detention for a long time. “They cannot keep Gevorg in prison for a long time, given the fact that it is in the center of attention of international organizations. They will try to play for time by intimidating people but cannot keep Safaryan in custody for ages,” he said. Gevorg Safaryan was detained during clashes between police and demonstrators in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on New Year’s Eve. On December 31, the police refused to allow opposition New Armenia activists to install a Christmas tree there. Safaryan and four more activists were detained by the police, but later all of them, except Safaryan, were released. The activist is charged under Criminal Code Article 316.1 (violence against a government representative) and has been in prison since January 3.
