Lawyer Tatev Soghoyan said that she and Hovhannes Khudoyan have assumed the legal defense of Aregnaz Manukyan and visited her at Abovyan Penitentiary. Soghoyan also published Manukyan's message from Abovyan prison.
In her statement, Manukyan said there is no factual basis whatsoever in the motion seeking her pretrial detention and that time and evidence will prove her innocence.
“Although you are already familiar with the motives and nature of political persecution, and I imagine you are no longer surprised by the daily repression, I first want to say the simplest and most important thing. I have committed no crime. I have done nothing for which I should bear legal or even moral responsibility. I have done nothing against my homeland or my state, regardless of the absurd assumptions contained in the fabricated charges against me.
I understand that many of you may be confused by the mysterious veil surrounding the phrase ‘state secret,’ and that many may feel uneasy simply because such an accusation exists. But I assure you that time and the facts will prove my innocence.
Therefore, I thank everyone who did not hesitate for even a second to speak out about my political persecution. I thank everyone who has supported me, and all those who work day and night for the freedom of political prisoners in Armenia.
The motion requesting my detention contains absolutely no factual basis. It is built entirely on someone's assumptions and vivid imagination. As a result of those assumptions and the political obedience of law enforcement authorities, I am now completely isolated from the outside world and deprived even of the opportunity to speak by phone with my 13-year-old daughter and my 85-year-old mother. As shocking as this inhumane treatment by the system is, unfortunately it was also entirely expected. I endure this willingly as well.
I believe many people naturally wonder why I was detained only a month and a half after Andranik Tevanyan, even though we were charged within the framework of the same case. What was unknown about me on May 23 that suddenly became known only on July 9? I will, of course, address these questions later.
For now, along with my gratitude, I want to tell my relatives and everyone concerned about me that I am doing well — mentally strong and physically resilient.
Strength, patience and God's blessing to our country.
Freedom for all political prisoners.
Freedom for the Republic of Armenia.”
Public criminal prosecution has been initiated against Aregnaz Manukyan under Article 427, Part 1, of Armenia's Criminal Code, which concerns the disclosure of information containing state secrets.
