Mrs. Tamara Shagoyan, the mother of journalist Ernest Vardanyan in a Transnistrian custody now, has appealed to international human rights organizations and the mass media to help her son at large because the state of his health is worsening dramatically.

She wrote in her address that during their contact on July 23, Ernest asked her to arrange no more meetings because he is in a critical state of mind and soul, and cannot stand looking at his children.

“Ernest was coughing heavily, and had a high temperature. I saw numerous traces of bug bites on his body, and on his neck – a strange long trace resembling a knife cut. He was given medical help only once – just an injection some time ago. This means that the authorities do not care about providing medical assistance for him”, said the mother.

In her words, the 4 months of custody have undermined his physical and moral condition “due to a constant pressure, blackmail, the using of psychotropic chemicals, and due to a false confession – an involuntary self-incrimination, which was tape-recorded and showed on the television and the global internet yet prior to investigation completion and prior to the court.

Tamara Shagoyan particularly stressed that her son was last interrogated 1.5 months ago, which she perceives as an indication that his detention in custody and the accusations being put against him are just unfounded fakes, and are apparently the Transnistrian security’s end in itself. She said, “His arrest is just a link in a political chain, to which Ernest has no relation whatsoever”.

The woman expressed her extreme concern about the condition of her son. She is calling on international human right organizations and the mass media to help liberate Ernest Vardanyan from the Transnistrian custody.

Infotag’s dossier: The Transnistrian ministry of state security arrested Ernest Vardanyan, a 30-year-old journalist and political scientist, last April 7 on suspicion of a grand treason and espionage in Moldova’s favor. Until now, the investigation would not be completed. By the legislation of the self-styled Transnistrian republic, such grave crimes are punishable with up to 20 years in jail.