14:44, 3 April 2008

In Armenia, wheel-chair invalid holds hunger strike in support of arrested oppositionist

Arshavir Bazinyan, a resident of the Armenian city of Razdan, a veteran of Karabakh war and wheel-chair invalid, is on hunger strike demanding to release his former commander Sasun Mikaelyan.

According to his story, despite intimidation of the policemen who have already twice destroyed and took away his tent, he will continue his action until he sees Mikaelyan at large.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that yesterday, on March 2, the war veteran was visited by doctors who examined him and took his blood for analysis. Mr Bazinyan told journalists that he would keep hunger strike till April 10, then, after a break of a couple of days, he is going to resume his hunger-strike action.

Let us note here that actions in support of Sasun Mikaelyan, arrested opposition activist, are held in his native city of Razdan for the tenth day in a row already. Despite attempts of the police to prevent people from rallying together, they come outdoors every day at 2 p.m. and chant "Sasun! Freedom!" for some minutes, and then break up.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent