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| '''Jirair Sefilian''' ({{lang-hy|Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան}}, born in ], in ], ]) is an ]n military commander |
'''Jirair Sefilian''' ({{lang-hy|Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան}}, born in ], in ], ]) is an ]n military commander, ] activist, and ] in Armenia. Alternative spellings of his name include '''Jirayr Sefilyan''' and '''Zhirayr Sefilyan'''. | ||
| Sefilian graduated from the ''Gevorg Chatalpashyan'' National College in Beirut. During the ] in Lebanon, Jirayr took part in the defense activities of the Armenian quarters in Beirut. | Sefilian graduated from the ''Gevorg Chatalpashyan'' National College in Beirut. During the ] in Lebanon, Jirayr took part in the defense activities of the Armenian quarters in Beirut. | ||
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| According to ]n journalist, colonel Svetana Paskaleva, "Jirair is one of the living icons I knew - Bekor, Monte, Samvel Babayan... Im happy that I know him"!<ref></ref> | According to ]n journalist, colonel Svetana Paskaleva, "Jirair is one of the living icons I knew - Bekor, Monte, Samvel Babayan... Im happy that I know him"!<ref></ref> | ||
| As of May 2008, Sefilyan has been denied Armenian citizenship.<ref name="Hetq-May-12-08">, ] - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, May 12, 2008.</ref> | |||
| ==2007 Imprisonment== | |||
| On August 6 2007, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the Kentron and Nork Marash Court of First Instance found Sefilyan not guilty of violating Article 301 of the Republic of Armenia Criminal Code (issuing anti-constitutional statements), but found him guilty of violating the first section of Article 235 of the Criminal Code (illegal possession of a weapon) and sentenced him to 1.5 years imprisonment.<ref name="Hetq-Aug-6-07">, ] - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, August 6, 2007.</ref> | |||
| Sefilyan has claimed his innocence and that no crime has been committed on his part: "This is not a court, this is a theater. Even the biggest supporter of the government cannot show evidence of ] in our actions. This is all an order. The ] is working to the gain of two people (] and ]). All those who had something to do with this case will eventually answer for it. The famous pair is foolishly trying to punish me and to scare the people. My dear people, we must not fear this anti-Armenian regime, we must struggle against it. This amoral regime is not powerful, we are powerful."<ref name="Hetq-Aug-6-07"/> | |||
| ==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
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Revision as of 19:03, 12 May 2008
Jirair Sefilian (Template:Lang-hy, born in 1967, in Beirut, Lebanon) is an Armenian military commander, political activist, and political prisoner in Armenia. Alternative spellings of his name include Jirayr Sefilyan and Zhirayr Sefilyan.
Sefilian graduated from the Gevorg Chatalpashyan National College in Beirut. During the civil war in Lebanon, Jirayr took part in the defense activities of the Armenian quarters in Beirut.
In 1990, with the purpose of participating in the Karabakh (Artsakh) movement, Jirayr moved to Armenia with his family. As a military instructor, he was involved in the formation of self-defense units in Karabakh and Syunik.
In 1991, as a military detachment commander, Jirayr Sefilian took part in the defense of several districts of Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1992 he became the commander of Shushi special military brigade, playing significant role during the Battle of Shusha.
After the Karabakh War, in 1997-1998 he was the NKR Defense Army brigade Commander.
Jirayr Sefilian was awarded with the First Degree Order of “Martakan Khach” (Fighting Cross), military medals, and other government awards. He is an Army lieutenant-colonel of the Republic of Armenia.
Since 2001, Jirayr Sefilian has been coordinating the activities of the public initiative group, "Liberated territories".
Sefilian and Vartan Malkhasian, the leaders of opposition group called the Alliance of Armenian Volunteers, were arrested in 2006. Human rights observers charged the arrest was politically motivated and that authorities used the controversial article of the Criminal Code to intimidate the opposition.
According to Bulgarian journalist, colonel Svetana Paskaleva, "Jirair is one of the living icons I knew - Bekor, Monte, Samvel Babayan... Im happy that I know him"!
As of May 2008, Sefilyan has been denied Armenian citizenship.
2007 Imprisonment
On August 6 2007, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the Kentron and Nork Marash Court of First Instance found Sefilyan not guilty of violating Article 301 of the Republic of Armenia Criminal Code (issuing anti-constitutional statements), but found him guilty of violating the first section of Article 235 of the Criminal Code (illegal possession of a weapon) and sentenced him to 1.5 years imprisonment.
Sefilyan has claimed his innocence and that no crime has been committed on his part: "This is not a court, this is a theater. Even the biggest supporter of the government cannot show evidence of corpus delicti in our actions. This is all an order. The NSS is working to the gain of two people (Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan). All those who had something to do with this case will eventually answer for it. The famous pair is foolishly trying to punish me and to scare the people. My dear people, we must not fear this anti-Armenian regime, we must struggle against it. This amoral regime is not powerful, we are powerful."
Sources
- Armenia: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2007, Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 11, 2008
- Jirair is a real Man, Azg daily, #040, 03/03/2007
- "Nanur Sefilyan - 'Armenia is our motherland which no force can snatch from us'", Hetq Online - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, May 12, 2008.
- ^ "Sefilyan, Malkhasyan and Aroyan convicted", Hetq Online - Investigative Journalists of Armenia, August 6, 2007.