Skip to content

Ernest Vardanyan’s Family: “Court Severe Verdict Reached Secretly of Mother”

Politologist, journalist Ernest Vardanyan’s family cannot understand what Ernest’s sin is and finally whose political order it is that he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment charged with espionage and treason by the Supreme Court of the unrecognized Republic of Transnistria.

30-year-old Ernest Vardanyan’s cousin Lilit Aghekyan, who lives in Gyumri, told JNews that the 2-month long suit was absolutely closed, far from the eyes and ears of the relatives and the society. And even the court composition is unknown.

“We are unaware of the charge brought against, of one who has kindled all this, of the reason why just Ernest has been chosen as a target. Yesterday we knew that a court session has taken place secretly even of his mother. She knew about only in the evening. She was told that her son has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for a grave crime,” says Lilit Aghekyan.

Ernest’s family succeeded to get official information on his sentence from dnieter.ru which published a message released by the press service of Transnistria National Security on Ernest’s 15 years of imprisonment on December 16 under a strict regime.

Politologist, journalist Ernest Vardanyan’s family cannot understand what Ernest’s sin is and finally whose political order it is that he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment charged with espionage and treason by the Supreme Court of the unrecognized Republic of Transnistria.

30-year-old Ernest Vardanyan’s cousin Lilit Aghekyan, who lives in Gyumri, told JNews that the 2-month long suit was absolutely closed, far from the eyes and ears of the relatives and the society. And even the court composition is unknown.

“We are unaware of the charge brought against, of one who has kindled all this, of the reason why just Ernest has been chosen as a target. Yesterday we knew that a court session has taken place secretly even of his mother. She knew about only in the evening. She was told that her son has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for a grave crime,” says Lilit Aghekyan.

Ernest’s family succeeded to get official information on his sentence from dnieter.ru which published a message released by the press service of Transnistria National Security on Ernest’s 15 years of imprisonment on December 16 under a strict regime.

“We didn’t know what evidence has been given during the court session, who has been invited and who were the witnesses. If he has convicted a crime, if he has been punished, then try him openly for the public is informed,” says Lilit.

“Wikileaks filled the world with its secret information, mixed all the diplomatic corps, and yesterday we learnt the Wikileaks founder has been freed on bail. Has Ernest convicted a more serious crime, than that guy or the 12 Russian citizens who were exiled from the USA being caught at spying? And people’s exchange took place between the two countries, some officials called those people heroes of the country,” she add.

According to her Vardanyans were blocked in from the very beginning when Ernest was given a state lawyer and not allowed for a choice.

“All the other lawyers we applied to rejected to take over the case, which certifies about a fear atmosphere. And they knew exactly about the trend chosen by the judicial system. This decision is a legal vandalism. If Ernest has published a state secret, and the state has suffered of it, then they should have to tell what secret he has published. And if he knew secret information, as mentioned in the Internet, then did he deserve a sentence? Even the information usage is not chased, let alone its notion. It is not allowed to devastate a 29-year-old guy skillful in diplomacy, to willfully abuse his soul,” says Lilit, at the same time expressing hope that president of that country would have enough sense and political will to rectify the situation.

Criminal case brought against the young journalist has been heard in the Supreme Court of Transnistria. His relatives are still thinking whether it is worth to appeal or not, as the appeal should hear the same court that has reached the verdict.

Ernest Vardanyan’s case is accepted in the European Court, and his relatives are hopeful to achieve final justice there. By the way, there hasn’t remained an international institution where Ernest’s relatives have not applied to, but all in vain.

According to Lilit Aghekyan Ernest’s family hasn’t yet received the verdict, but is informed of the internet that the journalist is sentenced to bear the “punishment” under strict regime without property confiscation.

Aghekyan says the property confiscation was followed immediately after his arrest.

“There is already no property to confiscate. The enforcement bodies have deprived them even of the child benefit. Imagine the family’s social situation: the only breadwinner in the family was Ernest who marked his 30th anniversary in jail. During this period his daughter became 1-year-old and elder son went into the first form. Isn’t it too much for this family? Who has allowed to devastate a man, when will this violence end?” asks Lilit Aghekyan.