It was reported today in several Armenian newspapers that Arshaluys Hakobyan, a human rights defender in Armenia, and member of the Armenian Helsinki Association, has passed. His cause of death is unknown, though lragir reports he had some type of lung infection or pneumonia.
From Tert.am:
Hacobyan was arrested after on 31 May 2009 he participated in the municipal elections in Yerevan in the capacity of observer.
Accusations were brought against him according to Article 316, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (Showing Resistance against the Law Enforcement Bodies).
Human rights defenders say that he was subjected to torture while kept in detention in the police.
On October 16, 2009, the Court of First instance of Kentron and Nork-Marash Communities of Yerevan released him on bail. Later in February Mr Hakobyan was acquitted.
I remember his name well, as I included him in my video (second one on the right) on the violence and human rights abuses of the state against the citizens, including reporters and journalists, of Armenia.
I hope for him, his family, and the nation, that his death cannot be tied in anyway to the abuses against him, or his time in prison. I do, however, fear that this may be the case. I hope we will have more answers soon.
May he, too, rest in peace.
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