“My children know that father has gone to work. He has a very important job to do for the country, the state and the people,” says Anna Hakobyan, wife of the currently imprisoned chief editor of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily Nikol Pashinyan.
When we met, she was still working though it was already late. Now Anna is the publisher and director of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily. During Pashinyan’s absence she is performing also the responsibilities of an editor. Anna says her parents and nanny help her to take care of the children.
“At first, when I was late, the children were calling in case of any problem. Now, it seems, they have already accustomed, they call a few times not to disturb me,” Anna says.
“I have never applied to my husband to choose ‘softer and safer’ methods of struggle,” she says, “I don’t think that the families in Armenia where father and mother come back home from work are in a better situation than ours is. I don’t mean the financial difficulties only. Even with a good job, there are very few families today who can say that they live a happy and comfortable life under the conditions of this widespread injustice. ”
The editor-in-chief of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily is imprisoned for already one and a half year, since July 2009.
“My children know that father has gone to work. He has a very important job to do for the country, the state and the people,” says Anna Hakobyan, wife of the currently imprisoned chief editor of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily Nikol Pashinyan.
When we met, she was still working though it was already late. Now Anna is the publisher and director of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily. During Pashinyan’s absence she is performing also the responsibilities of an editor. Anna says her parents and nanny help her to take care of the children.
“At first, when I was late, the children were calling in case of any problem. Now, it seems, they have already accustomed, they call a few times not to disturb me,” Anna says.
“I have never applied to my husband to choose ‘softer and safer’ methods of struggle,” she says, “I don’t think that the families in Armenia where father and mother come back home from work are in a better situation than ours is. I don’t mean the financial difficulties only. Even with a good job, there are very few families today who can say that they live a happy and comfortable life under the conditions of this widespread injustice. ”
The editor-in-chief of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily is imprisoned for already one and a half year, since July 2009.
Pashinyan was wanted after the post-electoral events of 2008, and more than a year later, on July 1, 2009, he voluntarily surrendered to the law enforcement bodies. He was immediately arrested.
The decision on amnesty adopted by the National Assembly earlier, on June 19, was not granted to Nikol Pashinyan.
On January 19, 2010, Pashinyan was sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment for the March 1 incidents. He was found guilty according to the 1st part of Article 225 of the RA Criminal Code for inciting mass disorders. For two months the Appeals Court left Pashinya’s verdict unchanged but granted amnesty and reduced his punishment measures by half.
Nikol Pashinyan has 3 children: a son and 2 daughters. The elder daughter, Mariam is 12-year-old, the son, Ashot is 10 and the little daughter, Shushan is 3.[[wysiwyg_imageupload:63:]]
Shushan was still 7-month-old when his father went into hiding. With three children, Anna visits Nikol once per month for 4 hours and once after two months for a 3-day period. This is the envisaged set of meetings prescribed by law.
“During our short meetings with Nikol I tell him about the political events, the family and friends and, of course, we discuss issues related to the work. So it turns out that mainly I speak and speak too much. At first the children were complaining, but now, it seems as if they have got accustomed to keep silence during our visits and let us speak much,” Pashinyan’s wife says and adds that in the beginning the children were asking quesions on father’s whereabouts, then they understood everything.
Nikol Pashinyan has been realizing his journalistic activities both when hidden and when imprisoned staying the chief editor of the “Haykakan Zhamanak”. He has sent his editorials to the newspaper office by post. But after November 13, 2010, being moved from “Kosh” to “Artik” penitentiary, his letters didn’t reach the editorial office any more. Anna considers unlikely that the Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan says that “no letters have been handed to the penitentiary institution by Pashinyan.”
“Nikol insists the opposite,” says Anna. (On January 19, the editorial office of the “Haykakan Zhamanak” received the first envelope this year, which according to “HZ” was handed to “Artik” penitentiary administration by Pashinyan on January 9.)
Now Pashinyan is under absolutely isolated conditions, in a closed regime isolator. It deems a closed cell all day long with an opportunity of a closed area walking for an hour per day. According to legislation, in this case, too, the order of meetings operates.
Anna says her husband is not displeased with the penitentiary conditions. The isolator is provided with sufficient living conditions. Pashinyan does not complain of health either.
“He does not experience psychological depression at all,” she notes.
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Until now political forces, as well as public and media organizations, scientists and cultural workers have made demands on the release of the chief editor of the “Haykakan Zhamanak”. Statements condemning the journalist’s imprisonment have been made also by international organizations. Similar statements have been received also from the Diaspora.
Last year some prisoners sentenced for March 1 incidents were set free early. As for Nikol, then Anna says that information on her husband’s early release is contradictory.
“Many are sure that Nikol, too, would be set free, as it is a serious problem for the country to have a political prisoner, especially, when s/he is a journalist. It may cause big problems for the country in the Council of Europe. However, there are also sources according to which Serzh Sargsyan would release eveybody, except Nikol Pashinyan and Sasun Mikayelyan.”
According to the indictment, Pashinyan will remain in prison until May 2013, a further 2 years and 3 months or 750 days. Anna says that although it is difficult without Nikol, but she has never thought, not a moment, that Nikol could have not done the step, for which he is not beside his family today.
“Children are fully aware of what is the reason that father does not come home. They do not ask questions. Simply, sometimes they ask when good will win. ” she says.
“Nikol’s struggle will, finally, bear fruit,” Anna is sure.
Photos: Pashinyans’ photo archive
Source: JNews.am