Armenian writer arrested in Greece faces extradition to Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Embassy in Greece is taking measures to prevent the extradition of Turkish-Armenian writer Sevan Nisanyan to Turkey, the Embassy said in a statement on Sunday, January 2.

"The Armenian Embassy in Greece is aware of the processes involving the Istanbul-Armenian intellectual, Armenian citizen Sevan Nisanyan and is taking every possible measure to resolve the issue," the statement said.

The distinguished writer living under a temporary permit in Greece after fleeing a Turkish prison has been arrested and faces deportation, his wife has said, according to Greek City Times.

Nisanyan, a 66-year-old linguist and blogger, was detained on the island of Samos on Thursday after Greek authorities refused to renew his residence permit, his wife Ira Tzourou said on Facebook and Twitter.

A Samos court tomorrow is to decide whether he will be deported to Turkey or Armenia, she said.

Nisanyan had been jailed in Turkey in 2014 on charges of illegal construction, a case he claims was punishment for his outspoken views about restrictions on freedom of expression in the country. He escaped from a low-security prison in 2017 and pursued asylum in Greece.

Greek courts usually refuse to extradite to Turkey persons who say they face persecution for their views in the neighbouring country.