Opposition politician Armen Ashotyan wishes his son happy birthday from prison

Jailed opposition politician Armen Ashotyan has extended birthday wishes to his eldest son, Gor, from the Nubarashen Penitentiary.

Ashotyan, deputy head of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), was arrested on 16 June on charges of abuse of power and money laundering strongly denied by him as politically motivated.

In a social media post on Monday, Ashotyan criticized the authorities for not allowing him to meet or speak with his son by phone on his birthday.

“We shall overcome this too,” the politician wrote.

“I want to leave you three things: education, knowledge and a good name, so that you can distinguish between good and evil, forge your own path and live with your head held high. I promise you to do everything I can to ensure that you and your generation live in a dignified Armenian state,” he added.