12:20, 3 December 2013

In Yerevan, police check information about beating of journalist during protest action

Vardan Minasyan, a correspondent of the newspaper "Graparak", claims policemen used violence against him during the protest action held in Yerevan on December 2. The police promise to carry out the investigation into the incident.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the action in the form of a protest march and a rally held on December 2 were timed to the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Armenia. About 100 participants of the protest action, who spoke against Armenia's accession to the Customs Union, were detained and brought to police stations.

Vardan Minasyan was among the detainees. He was recording on video how policemen forced into their car Levon Barsegyan, Chairman of the Gyumri journalists' club "Asparez". At that moment, the policemen took away the journalist's camera and then used violence to force Vardan Minasyan into their car. Inside the car, according to the journalist, one of the policemen hit him in his face. Then, the journalist was brought to the police department of the Central District of Yerevan.

The police boss has appointed an official check of the disseminated information.