Yesterday, an exhibition of the works of three life convicts, Aram Arakelyan, Mikayel Martirosyan and Igor Ohanyan, was organized in the Sevan Penitentiary, in which the clay dishes and decorative items presented were donated to the “Hay Manuk” [Armenian Kid] program of the “Hay Association” charity fund.
“Hay Manuk” finances infertile Armenian families who, based on a relevant medical opinion, have no opportunity to have a child in any other way than through IVF.
This is not the first similar initiative of Aram Arakelyan. Last year, he prepared and handed over to the foundation two handmade figurines, the money received from the sale of which was directed to a family that has been childless for years. Thanks to that, a baby was born in the family quite recently.
According to “Armenian Association” co-founder Tigran Hakobyan, God should forgive all of our sins. “We are doing God-pleasing work and the basis of it all is God’s will… I remembered Aram’s words that had a great impact on all of us. He said: ‘I took life, but I did not give life and I want life to be born now’. Let me say that one life was born and I think that as a result of all this, more children will be born.”
Mikael Martirosyan, a life convict, thanked all those present for responding to his invitation and noted that he is happy that the meeting is on a good occasion: “We are happy that we are able to make useful things with our handiwork, and we are happy that the foundation accepts our gifts, and they will decide how to dispose of them.”
Expressing his gratitude to the representatives of the penitentiary who created the conditions for working with clay and creating the opportunity to make quality items, Martirosyan also addressed his words of thanks to Zhanna Aleksanyan, the head of the Journalists for Human Rights NGO, noting that she has been dealing with the life prisoners’ problems on a daily basis: “The organization is with us, it is by our side, it takes initiatives. All that is very important for us.”
Zhanna Aleksanyan responded to the words. “I would very much like them to be released as soon as possible and our legislation to be regulated in such a way that this would be possible. I know all of them very well; I am always in contact with life convicts. Endowed with really high human qualities, willing, kind, aware of their sins… I’m sorry that I have to say about it… it is very important that this breakthrough moment happened in their lives… I would very much like you to be appreciated as people and, in general, human attitude is pretty emphasized in Sevan Prison.”
She also thanked those who appreciate and contributed to this event: “This is a difficult place, a closed system, and we, who are outside, are always more concerned, but when we come inside, we are convinved that everything is in order and we feel good.”
Ani Gevorgyan
