Around 40 people marched in the Armenian town of Vanadzor in defense of Jirayr Sefilyan who was arrested the other day in Yerevan on charges of illegal arms trafficking and possession.

The demonstrators marched towards the center of town carrying signs proclaiming “Freedom to Jirayr Sefilyan” and “Death to the Traitors”.

Organized by members of the New Armenia and Founding Parliament branches in Lori Province, members of the HAK (Armenian National Congress) and the Heritage Party Lori office branches joined the march.

According to Razmik Evoyan, representing the Founding Parliament’s Lori office, Sefilyan’s arrest was due to the fact that he revealed the traitorous nature of the government during the April four-day war along the Karabakh Line of Contact, and that Sefilyan was planning to organize a national resistance committee.

HAK Vanadzor Council member Ashot Manoukyan told Hetq that he is concerned that “the government is preparing to concede some of occupied territories and it’s is trying to isolate those whom they believe pose a serious risk.”

The marchers stated that the charges levied against Sefilyan are unsubstantiated.

“We were waiting for them to say that Sefilyan wanted to seize the Eiffel Tower,” joked Evoyan, a reference to the fact that the government had initially stated that Sefilyan and the alleged arms trafficking group were planning to seize the TV antenna tower in Yerevan.

Manoukyan raised the alarm that the indifferent bystanders watching the march should realize that they too might be detained at any moment if the government deems it necessary.

He said that the government had crossed all permissible borders and was using the law as a club to suppress those who spoke out.

Vardan Vardanyan, a Founding Parliament MP, said the indifference of the people was due to the fact that they were more concerned with mere survival.

“Today, people are in a daze and most are just trying to get by,” Vardanyan said and went on to criticize the intelligentsia of Armenia for not speaking out in the name of the people.

Upon reaching the town square, the demonstrators remained there for about an hour.

Their hope is that similar protests will be held in other Armenian towns in order to hasten the release of Sefilyan.