According to the eyewitness, “the Convict’s Death was a Murder”

Three more detainees were in the same isolation cell with deceased Slavik Voskanyan at “Vanadzor” Penitentiary. Several times one of them called Slavik’s relatives and had telephone conversations after and before his death.

At first he presented himself as Erik (perhaps it is his second name). For the first time he called Slavik’s mother Tatyana Voskanyan on October 22, 2010 (4 days after the injection of spit into his leg by Slavik) and informed her that the Penitentiary staff wanted to move Slavik to the “Penitentiary Hospital for Convicts” and after he was moved, he would call back and notify her about it. The detainee’s next call was on October 27, 2010 on the day of Slavik’s funeral.

He spoke to Slavik’s sister, Svetlana Voskanyan and told her that he knew a lot, although he could not speak at the moment, but “when the moment came, he would speak”. A week after Slavik’s funeral he had a phone conversation with Slavik’s wife, Shushan Voskanyan by introducing him as Kolya Mirzoyan. The latter told Shushan that he was in the gym when Slavik injected spit into his leg, but upon his return he found out what Slavik had done. He did not know how Slavik had done it, and where he could have gotten a syringe.

“He said he had a lot to tell, but as long as he was in prison he could say no more. When I get released, I will come and tell you everything. I will tell the course of events in the sequence as they occurred: how he died, whose fault it was, what was happening in the prison, and who was doing what there.  He said Slavik felt ill and he was suffering and that is why they would carry him to the restroom and back. He also said when the Prosecutor came and saw the situation he gave an order not to take him anywhere, as he did not deserve to be cured and therefore should stay in the isolation cell”, reiterates Shushan in the phone conversation with Kolya Mirzoyan.

The detainee could tell Slavik’s relative this much. However, in the letter addressed to the RA General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan on October 25, 2011, he reported details over Slavik’s death and the incidents preceding the death. He labeled Slavik Voskanyan’s death as a “murder at Vanadzor Prison” and pointed to Vanadzor General Prosecutor, Penitentiary Chief Mkhoyan and Security Chief Mkrtchyan as perpetrators over the case.

Kolya Mirzoyan’s complete letter is presented below:
To the RA General Prosecutor A. Hovsepyan
From “Vanadzor” Penitentiary convict Kolya (Erik) Askyar Mirzoyan

Dear Mr. A. Hovsepyan,
I, prisoner Kolya Askyar Mirzoyan, would like to inform you about an incident that occurred at “Vanadzor” Prison. On October 11, 2010 a person of half Russian-Armenian descent was brought into Isolation Cell 11, the cell that I was imprisoned in. On October 24, 2010 Slavik Voskanyan died and these are some of the reasons leading to his death.

On October 6, 2010 Slavik Voskanyan committed a robbery assault and on that very day or several days after or before that, pressure was exerted on him to admit to committing a murder in addition to the robbery assault, of which there was no evidence. Without any proof, he was charged with Article 104 of the RA Criminal Code on murder. Mkhoyan, Chief of the prison, called me and told “Kolya, we need Slavik”.

I told Mkrtchyan, Head of Security Service, that Slavik Voskanyan injected spit into his leg. In reply Mkrtchyan said: “Let him do whatever he wants”. Slavik Voskanyan was in the same cell as I was. By order of Chief, Prosecutor and Mkrtchyan, Slavik was administered an intravenous injection of liquid medication by the nurses, which is, in fact, prohibited for them to do. Two days after the injection, Slavik’s health condition started to worsen. His leg began infected and the skin changed color. So, Slavik Voskanyan was murdered by the order of the Vanadzor General Prosecutor, the Chief of the prison, and Mkrtchyan.
Mr. Hovsepyan, although I endanger my life by writing this complaint, I do not hold fears, I have my relevant security. During 1-3 hours they prepared, wrote, crossed out something, as if he were not a human being. Chief of the prison Mkhoyan, Head of Security Service Mkrtchyan, and the General Prosecutor of Vanadzor are to blame for Slavik Voskanyan’s death.  The Chief of the prison said to me directly: “Kolya, make Slavik speak, we need him”.

No one paid attention to the fact that Slavik had injected “spit and ink” into his leg. The head of the Security Service and the Prosecutor said: “There won’t be any assistance until he gives us the information we need”. I am sure that if they had helped him, Slavik would not have died. Knowing that Slavik had injured himself, by injecting something into his leg, nurses Nina and Nona injected pain-killers (Analgin and Demerol) with some other medicine by order of Mkrtchyan, Chief of Security, and General Prosecutor. Three days later Slavik died. In a nutshell, Slavik was taken out of the cell at 11 am on October 24.We were told that Slavik had died. If they had helped him 3 days earlier, Slavik would still be alive.    

So, that is how the Chief of Vanadzor Penitentiary is handling the case of a detainee who had been brought to the prison and who admitted to a crime he had not committed. He could have lived but instead died.

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