In Armenia, head of "Asparez" Club files lawsuit against policemen

Levon Barsegyan, the head of the "Asparez" Journalistic Club from the second largest Armenian city of Gyumri, filed a lawsuit to the administrative court demanding to treat the actions of the policemen, who prevented the protest action in the morning on September 21 in downtown Yerevan, as illegitimate.

On September 21, on celebration day of the 20th anniversary of Independence of Armenia, a protest action was held near the monument to Saryan. Its participants, including Levon Barsegyan and Arno Kur, one of the members of the "Asparez" Club, unfolded the national flag of Armenia and posters with the slogans: "No to aliens' flags!", "Armenia is not part of Russia!" and "Independent Armenia!" This was their way to protest against participation Russian militaries in the parade dated to the anniversary of Armenia's independence.

The police took away their posters, and after the protesters hoisted the national flag of Armenia and began chanting "Free, independent Armenia!", Barsegyan and Kur, according to their information, were detained and brought to the police.

In his lawsuit against policemen of the Yerevan community Centre, Levon Barsegyan asked the court to recognize the policemen's actions illegal. He demands to recognize that the policemen had violated the right to the freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of movement and personal freedom and immunity.

The police of the Community Centre deny that on September 21 the members of the "Asparez" Club were forced to the police station. According to the police, Barsegyan and Kur had been invited to the police station "for conversation."

See earlier report: "In Armenia, Chairman of "Asparez" Club reports about his forced delivery to police".