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Armenian Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan has addressed the circumstances surrounding the death while in pre-trial detention of Arsen Gevorgyan, the Strong Armenia party's candidate for mayor in the Stepanavan local elections.
Speaking to reporters, Galyan said that the events surrounding the death had been established in chronological order.
“CCTV cameras installed in the corridor of the penitentiary facility recorded that after Arsen Gevorgyan complained, a penitentiary service officer approached his cell and called a medical staff member. After entering the cell, the latter called an ambulance. The ambulance arrived at the penitentiary facility 16 minutes after the call. I also spoke with the Minister of Health to find out whether his outpatient medical record contained any mention of an illness. I was told that there was no mention of any illness. The individual had not complained of any ischemic condition. Moreover, no such health issue was mentioned during the court hearing either. The individual had not reported any health problems. He had also made no health-related complaints while at the penitentiary facility, meaning that he had not mentioned any problems. His condition deteriorated on the day of the incident, and within minutes the ambulance service had reached him,” Srbuhi Galyan said.
46-year-old Arsen Gevorgyan died on the morning of November 10 at the Nubarashen Penitentiary.
The Penitentiary Service said that after his condition deteriorated, first aid was administered by the on-duty medic. An ambulance was called at around 07:55, and its medical team pronounced him dead at around 08:30. An investigation has been initiated into the death, and a forensic medical examination has been ordered. Gevorgyan had been in pre-trial detention since October 21 on charges of offering an electoral bribe. He denied wrongdoing.