Stepanavan Mayoral Candidate Arsen Gevorgyan Dies in Custody

The ANC called for an end to political persecution and demanded accountability over Gevorgyan’s death.

Similarly Aram Vardevanyan, a deputy parliament speaker, has denounced the use of pretrial detention in the country, describing it as both an instrument of political repression and a serious problem following the death of opposition candidate Arsen Gevorgyan in custody.

“For a long time, we have been speaking openly about how pretrial detention in Armenia has become not only an instrument of political repression but an evil in its own right,” Vardevanyan wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

He said Gevorgyan had been entitled to the presumption of innocence and the right to liberty, which he said had been grossly violated by the competent authorities.

“Gevorgyan was entirely under the care and responsibility of the state, and under these circumstances we are confronted with this appalling reality,” Vardevanyan said.

Armenian Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan spoke with reporters and said that deaths in detention occur both in Armenia and elsewhere in the world.

“Unfortunately, such incidents happen around the world, including in penitentiary facilities,” Galyan said.

She said Gevorgyan had not reported any health problems or complained of feeling unwell while in custody.

“Early this morning, he complained of feeling unwell. A medical officer examined him at around 7:55 a.m., and an ambulance was called shortly afterward. Cardiac arrest was subsequently recorded,” the minister said.

Galyan expressed her condolences to Gevorgyan’s family, relatives and friends.

She also said that more than 20 deaths had been recorded in penitentiary facilities last year and four so far this year.

“Unfortunately, people with existing or newly developed health conditions sometimes find themselves in detention. Should we be blamed for that? We have repeatedly stated, and this is the reality, that no political persecution is taking place,” Galyan said.