Ernest Vardanyan’s wife cannot establish whereabouts of her husband

The wife of journalist Ernest Vardanyan, Irina, cannot find out where her husband is and something about the case that was opened against him. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Irina Vardanyan said she did not have access to the November 3 hearing, while the lawyer employed by the Transnistrian authorities does not communicate with the Vardanyan family. Irina Vardanyan said she did not see Ernest during the hearing and knows nothing about his state of health. “I waited in the hall and was not allowed to see Ernest. I don’t know if he is healthy and how he looks,” she told the reporters. She said the lawyer from Chisinau and the representatives of the OSCE Mission also were not allowed to attend the hearing According to Irina Vardanyan, a new hearing was scheduled for November 5. Journalist Ernest Vardanyan was arrested by the Transnistrian authorities in Tiraspol on April 7. He faces 20 years in jail and confiscation of property. He is accused of “betraying the state” and “spying for Moldova”.