Raffi Hovannisian joins rally in support of Shant Harutyunyan
A rally in support of Tseghakron Party leader Shant Harutyunyan and other political prisoners has begun at Liberty Square in Yerevan. Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian, Heritage deputy chairman Armen Martirosyan, member of Pre-Parliament Tigran Khzmalyan have also joined the rally, a Panorama.am correspondent reports.
“Today we need people like Shant Harutyunyan,” Raffi Hovannisian told reporters.
Tseghakron Party leader Shant Harutyunyan ended his hunger strike this morning. Harutyunyan was yesterday transported to Hospital of Convicts. According to his defense lawyer, Inesa Petrosyan, his health deteriorated so they had to take him to hospital.
Shant Harutyunyan went on hunger strike on December 24 to protest against the ban on meeting his relatives and unlawful actions towards him.
On November 5, 2013, Shant Harutyunyan initiated a march in central Yerevan, which turned violent as demonstrators put to use hand-made explosives and sticks to confront the security forces. He was arrested after the clashes with the police.