South-East European Media Organization Condemns the Arrest of Ernest Vardanyan

South-East European Media Organization has strongly condemned the “baseless arrest” of the Armenian national journalist Ernest Vardanyan in Transdniestria — the breakaway region of Moldova — for his articles in which he was critical of state officials and their ignorance of the public interests.

Vardanyan was arrested near his home in Tiraspol on April 7 allegedly by the Transdniestrian state secrete services. He is accused of high treason and according to Article 271 of the Transdniestrian Criminal Code he can face 12-20 years in prison.