"I am neither a spy nor a betrayer"
Ernest Vardanyan, a journalist of Armenian origin, arrested in the Republic of Transdniestria, has appealed for help on May 2, for his wife and two under-age children, saying Transdniestria National Security Service employees threaten to "settle a physical score" with them, and he is being tortured.
"In the name of all saints, please, save my wife and my children. They make me confess that I have spied and betrayed the homeland (Transdniestria) in favor of Moldova. They beat me periodically and threat that they would apply to more ‘inventive' tortures, which leave no traces. They threaten to settle a physical score with my wife and my children," the journalist said in a statement circulated through security guards.
I am not a spy and I have betrayed no one. I simply said the truth to improve the life of ordinary people. During the examination they ascribed the charges of betrayal and espionage to me. "You are to blame yourself. We had warned you not to give further details and now it is too late to return," they said.
Vardanyan asks "not to believe in falsely staged interrogation videos and trumped-up charges. They can ascribe charged to everyone here. I am forced to give evidence against people criticizing the authorities.
Please, help me to find a good advocate and believe my innocence even if I publically plead guilty in videos and legal proceeding.
For the sake of his family's security, I am ready to "plead guilty and be imprisoned as much as the special bodies and authorities need."
Vardanyan, 30, was arrested on April 7 on charges of espionage for Moldova and may face 12-20 years in prison.
The Armenian journalist freelanced for the Russian Internet news agency Novy Region (in the unrecognized Republic of Transdniestria). In 2009, he started to work also for the Chisinau-based newspaper Puls, which caused irritation among Transdniestria authorities.
