Authorities' goal is to keep Nikol Pashinyan in isolation and silence him: NGO

When it comes to former Chief Editor of the local Armenian daily Haykakan Zhamanak, Nikol Pashinyan, the number one goal of the Armenian authorities is to keep him imprisoned as long as possible and to hinder his professional activities, a local NGO has said.

"It is obvious the authorities' number one goal is to silence Pashinyan and keep him imprisoned as long as possible," a statement issued by the Centre for Rights and Freedom read.

Nikol Pashinyan was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment on January 19, 2010 for "organizing mass riots" following the disputed presidential elections in 2008.

Pashinyan reportedly used to coordinate the publication of the daily from prison before he was denied access to any communication to the outside world.

The statement also said that the authorities continue to use every illegal method to keep Pashinyan in isolation.

It also called on local and international human rights organizations to join and voice their support for all political prisoners in general and Nikol Pashinyan in particular.

"Despite the demands by the Armenian society and the international community the authorities of the Republic of Armenia continue to keep political prisoners in jails," read the statement.

According to the NGO the authorities continue to subject political prisoners to pressure and violence, while the management of the penitentiaries they are kept in does their best to create unbearable conditions for them in an attempt to make them quit their fight and ideas.

"In recent two years the authorities have failed to do so. They will fail in the future too," the statement added.