“For 24 Years, Artur Has Been Shouting That He Is Not a Murderer,” Says Naira Zohrabyan

Naira Zohrabyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia faction, wrote on her Facebook page: "Kill a person’s hope, and you will kill the person. Since August 11, convict Artur Mkrtchyan has declared an indefinite hunger strike. I have known Artur for a long time, since my journalistic days, and this is one of those rare cases where I am convinced that Artur did not commit the crime he is accused of.

Twenty-four years ago, a 19-year-old soldier was accused of killing his comrades, and for the past 24 years, Artur has been trying to prove to everyone that he is not a murderer. The parents of the slain servicemen also know that Artur did not kill their sons and have publicly stated this multiple times.

To extract testimony from the 19-year-old, he was tied to a chair affixed to the ground and was pricked with needles on his feet and hands. Artur recounted that this was not just physical pain but torture meant to drive a person to madness. He has spoken extensively about the methods used to force the almost-child to sign a confession.

And for 24 years, Artur has been shouting that he is not a murderer. And for 24 years, we all have been listening and remaining silent. In 2018, Artur applied for a change of regime and, having received a positive conclusion from the correctional institution, his regime was upgraded to semi-closed by relocating him to the ‘Sevan’ correctional facility. However, the prosecutor's office has already twice suspended the commission's decision on the transfer, sending Artur back to a closed regime prison.

The law allows the prosecutor's office to not justify its decision in any way. So what I mean is this: If we've decided to kill a person, then let's kill him immediately, without tormenting, without causing evil, and without crushing the last glimmer of hope.

On the day Artur declared a hunger strike, he also appealed to the Prime Minister, who, during his years as a journalist and MP, like me, met with Artur and spoke with him on several occasions.

I say without a moment's hesitation that in Artur's case, it is not the regime that should change, but he should be granted freedom. A person who is dying slowly every minute and every day for a crime committed by someone else.

Since August 11, Artur has been on an indefinite hunger strike. Knowing Artur, I know this is his last attempt to convey his voice to all of us. Let’s not kill a person, just let’s not kill.

P.S. A year ago, on December 5, during one of the court sessions, the legal heir of the victim, the murdered serviceman Vardan Martoyan’s father stated in court: 'I am confident that Artur did not kill my son,' and turning to Artur, he said, 'May God grant you freedom.'