For Immediate Release
July 26, 2001

Conscientious objector arrested after
giving evidence in court

YEREVAN, Armenia—On Wednesday, July 25, Aram Shahverdyan was arrested for conscientious objection to military service and was placed in jail awaiting trial. Shahverdyan is an 18-year-old who gave dramatic testimony the previous Friday in the trial of Lyova Margaryan, a Jehovah's Witness who was being prosecuted for his religious convictions and activity.

Shahverdyan's arrest followed his appearance as a key witness at the Armavir regional court in which he revealed that he had been coerced into signing a statement that accused the defendant of advising him not to join the army. Shahverdyan, who is also one of Jehovah's Witnesses, categorically declared in court: "That statement did not contain my thoughts. It was dictated to me by the investigator. I studied the Bible and made my own conscientious decision on this issue."

On Tuesday, July 24, prosecutors charged Shahverdyan with refusal of military service and promptly took him into custody the following day.

Upon its accession to the Council of Europe on January 25, 2001, Armenia agreed to adopt legislation on alternative service and, in the meantime, to free all imprisoned conscientious objectors in advance of such legislation.

Contact numbers in Armenia, Telephone: + 3741 426868
English-speaking, Paul Gillies, mobile telephone: + 44 7775 833880