For Immediate Release
Repeat prosecution of conscientious YEREVAN, Armenia—"I love my homeland and am prepared to do any beneficial work for it that is not connected with the military." These words were spoken yesterday by 21-year old Henrik Hovnikyan, a young Jehovah's Witness being tried a second time for his refusal to serve in the military. The judge in the case, Mr. Gor Akopyan, commented on the young man's fine character and his unblemished work record, as well as on character references from his employer and the municipality describing him as an exemplary citizen. Nevertheless, he sentenced him to two and a half years of incarceration. While passing sentence, the judge also acknowledged that young Henrik had already been tried and sentenced to two years for the same offense. The case illustrates the plight of young Jehovah's Witnesses in Armenia. Despite commitments to the Council of Europe to free all conscientious objectors and pass legislation on civilian alternative service, authorities in the former Soviet republic continue an aggressive policy of jailing young Jehovah's Witnesses who refuse military service. When these are released for good behavior or by a general amnesty, they are without exception, rearrested, tried, and sentenced a second time. In Henrik's case, he was pardoned as part of a general amnesty declared in connection with Armenia's celebration of 1,700 years of Christianity. Soon thereafter he was rearrested and held in custody pending his second trial. There are 7,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Armenia. Over the last five years, more than one hundred of these have been sentenced to prison terms for refusing military service. Many of these will eventually face a second term of imprisonment. Contact numbers in Armenia:
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