Armenian Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan has said that Arsen Gevorgyan, the Strong Armenia party’s candidate for head of the Stepanavan community, first complained of feeling unwell on the morning of his death at Nubarashen prison on November 10.
According to Galyan, Gevorgyan had reported no health problems during his detention, which began on October 21, Factor.am reported.
The minister said medical personnel examined Gevorgyan after he became unwell and an ambulance was subsequently called. The Penitentiary Service earlier reported that an ambulance was summoned at approximately 7:55 a.m. and that its medical team confirmed his death at around 8:30 a.m.
Galyan said Gevorgyan’s death was the fourth recorded in Armenian penitentiary institutions this year, compared with more than 20 deaths last year.
Responding to opposition allegations of politically motivated detentions, the minister denied that political persecution was taking place in Armenia, saying the authorities were obliged to investigate suspected criminal offenses.
Meanwhile, Ruben Mkhitaryan, identified as a lawmaker from the Strong Armenia faction, called for an independent, comprehensive and public investigation into Gevorgyan’s death, writing on Facebook.
Mkhitaryan argued that pretrial detention must not become punishment before conviction and called for scrutiny of the medical assistance provided and the actions of responsible officials.
The official cause of Gevorgyan’s death has not been established.
