Sevan Neshan, the Istanbul Armenian Who Escaped Prison, Has Received Armenian Citizenship

Sevan Neshan, an Armenian intellectual from Istanbul, received an Armenian passport from Armenia's Ambassador to Greece, Fadey Charchoghlian, during a ceremony held at the Armenian Embassy in Athens on May 16. He reported this on his Facebook page.

“Today, I received the passport of the Republic of Armenia during a modest ceremony at the embassy in Athens, from the honorable Ambassador Mr. Fadey Charchoghlian.

Once again, I felt proud to be a part of a hardworking and peace-loving nation, which has endured through history solely due to its labor and effort.”

Neshan expressed gratitude first to Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and then to all those who helped him attain this honor.

Neshan had been imprisoned in Turkey for 17 years, starting in 2014. He took advantage of a permit to leave prison on July 14, 2017, and did not return. He was accused of conducting 'illegal' construction on his own property in the village of Shirinj in Izmir.