Oppositionist MPs from the Armenian National Congress (ANC) Party have visited Zhirayr Sefilyan, Artsakh war hero and initiator of New Armenia movement, at the Vardashen penitentiary, where he was transferred to after the Court chose arrest as a measure of restraint against him, Thursday.
According to ANC's press-office, the parliamentarians met with the political prisoner Shant Haroutiunyan and freedom fighter Volodya Avetisyan too.
The Investigate Committee of Armenia has filed charges against Artsakh war hero and initiator of New Armenia movement Zhirayr Sefilyan under Article 235.2 of the Armenian Criminal Code (illegal acquisition, sale, keeping, transportation of firearms, ammunition, cartridges, and explosives). The Investigative Committee has requested the court to choose arrest as a measure of restraint against Sefilyan. The Committee says that under the case 9 people, including Sefilyan, have been detained as defendants and 1 has been put on the wanted list. To note, Article 235.2 of the Armenian Criminal Code implies imprisonment for 2-6 years.
On June 20, 2016, Zhirayr Sefilyan was detained on suspicion of organizing a criminal group. 8 persons face charges of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition. 6 have been arrested and 1 is wanted. According to the Special Investigative Service of Armenia, Sefilyan and his supporters were planning to seize buildings of state importance in early April.