“The Council of Europe is seriously concerned about the fate of the Moldovan journalist of Armenian origin Ernest Vardanyan, the circumstances of his trial and the very harsh sentence imposed in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. Since his arrest in Tiraspol in April this year, the Council of Europe has been following the case of Mr. Vardanyan and will continue to do so,” said Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Ernest Vardanyan was sentenced to 15 years in prison without confiscation of property to be served in the colony.

The sentence was handed down on December 16, 2010 Supreme Court of the region. The journalist is accused of spying for the Republic of Moldova.

Vardanyan, a Moldovan citizen, was arrested by the security forces of Transnistria on April 7 on charges of “treason.”