Did the Defense Attorney confuse a hunger strike with fasting?
08:15, May 4, 2012 | News | Rights of Soldiers/Recruits | Armed ForcesSuren Kirakosyan conscripted from the Kotayk Region on June 3, 2009, has been on a hunger strike in the Goris Penitentiary Institution of the Ministry of Justice for the past 26 days.
Candidates to Parliament, Zaruhi Postanjyan and Raffi Hovhannisyan, visited Kirakosyan during his hunger strike.
This information was provided during a press conference on May 2, 2012, organized by Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor, Zvart Kirakosyan, Kirakosyan’s mother, and Zhanna Aleksanyan, President of Journalists for Human Rights NGO.
Zhanna Aleksanyan stated that Zaruhi Postanjyan had an impression that “His hands and lips were shaking.”
Suren Kirakosyan, hunger striker, demands to be examined and released from detention.
Zvart Kirakosyan stated that, her son, the soldier, was recognized to be fit for restricted service with a diagnosis of “congenital pigment birthmarks on his left pectoral arch and on the surface of the left side of the chest”, however, the service record stated “fit for ordinary military service”. 24 days after conscription, the political officer of the army unit asked the mother why the sick young man had been conscripted.
“The military uniform and weapon caused the birthmark to enlarge, broke the symmetry of the birthmark, which caused some hair growth, which is extremely dangerous for life,” stated Zhanna Aleksanyan, who also informed us that this was the reason for young man’s refusal to serve.
The serviceman was examined at the Erebuni Medical Center and the doctor said he had 50% chance of living. and that the soldier would have to undergo surgery.
“No one from the Ministry of Defense can explain what “fit for ordinary military service” and “fit for restricted service” mean. During military service, the medical decision is left up to the commander or the doctor and it is not regulated how it is to be fulfilled,” continued Artur Sakunts, who stated that the mother was not provided with medical documentation about her son, on the grounds that the information was confidential!
As Aravot.am has informed the public, the serviceman on hunger strike, was charged under Part 4 of Article 361 of the RA Criminal Code (absence from the military unit without leave). To the question of Aravot.am, about the defense attorney and whether Kirakosyan’s family had chosen the attorney, his mother, Zvart, said that the attorney, Mihran Khanamiryan, was provided by the inquest body. This attorney never visited Kirakosyan and, most importantly, referring to the hunger strike, he stated “fasting helps to clear the body of extra toxics.”
Artur Sakunts promised to visit the detainee with a group of public observers of penitentiary institutions.
Source: http://www.aravot.am