Lifer starts hunger strike in Armenia
Lifer Mher Yenokyan has started open-ended hunger strike, demanding that relevant bodies review his case. With this extreme means of protest, Yenokyan hopes to "sober up" the Cassation Court and reinstate justice.
New circumstances have emerged in the case of the life-termer who has spent 16 years of his life in prison. And today Yenokyan demands that the court repeal the sentence passed on him many years ago.
Human rights activists dealing with life-termers' problems, today urged that Yenokyan call off the strike, saying it might harm his health.
"We are working in different directions: not every door is closed before us," said human rights activist Avetik Ishkhanyan. "Despite all evidence that you produce, they only show cold indifference. They seem to be totally indifferent to human lives."
Yenokyan was arrested in 1996 and was charged with murdering his classmate. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
More than 200 intellectuals and human rights activists today demanded that the Court review the case and repeal the sentence.
Yenokyan has never pleaded guilty.
