Anna Grigoryan, head of the Armenia parliamentary faction, has claimed that an Azerbaijani soldier who entered Armenian territory and shot at a resident of Shaki village in Syunik province is being held in exceptionally good conditions at the Yerevan-Kentron penitentiary institution, while Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, is being held there in poor conditions.
“He is being held in that notorious National Security Service basement. The Yerevan-Kentron penitentiary institution is a disgrace and should be closed,” Grigoryan said, Sputnik Armenia reports.
The opposition lawmaker argued that the difference in detention conditions reflects the current authorities’ political approach and their treatment of political opponents.
“The Azerbaijani soldier is being held in exceptionally good conditions, while President Robert Kocharyan is sitting right next to him in exceptionally poor conditions. That is the true face of today’s government,” she said.
Grigoryan also recalled that Kocharyan had served as the first president of the Republic of Artsakh.
Kocharyan faces charges of abuse of official powers, money laundering on an especially large scale and accepting a particularly large bribe.
Grigoryan also criticized Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan for describing Kocharyan’s detention conditions as good, suggesting that the minister should spend a month there herself, Aysor.am reports.
“In general, Ms. Galyan should conduct herself more appropriately. At this stage, she is important to the authorities only as the person drafting Aliyev’s Constitution, nothing more,” Grigoryan added.
On October 1, an Azerbaijani serviceman entered Shaki village in the Sisian community of Syunik province. According to reports, he spent the night in a residential house before opening fire on 39-year-old Ani Avetisyan when she entered the home.
Despite being wounded, Avetisyan managed to stab the serviceman, Nasimi Musayev. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Musayev under five articles of the Criminal Code, and he has been remanded in custody for two months.
