In Yerevan, activists claim being persecuted by police

On July 9, David Sanasaryan, who in the evening stopped his hunger strike at the request of his colleagues, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the police pursued members of the coordination group and their family members.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after the decision was announced to increase the electricity tariff, Armenia has been hosting mass protests. The largest action took place on the round-the-clock basis in Yerevan, in Bagramyan Avenue, but on July 6 the police dispersed the protesters. On the same day, a new protest action was launched in Freedom Square.

According to David Sanasaryan, the policemen are aware of the personal data of the activists and visit them at home to call on them in presence of their family members to stop their protest actions and not to go out. "By these actions, the authorities want to weaken the movement against the increase in the price for electricity," David Sanasaryan believes.

The activist has also added that in the morning of July 9, he was approached by Valery Osipyan, the deputy chief of the Yerevan Police, who recommended him to stop the hunger strike and choose another method of struggle.

On the same day, the Yerevan activists used the social network Facebook to report on some facts proving increased attention of the police to them.

Aram Manukyan reports that "at home, he was visited by policemen, who came regarding the issue not irrelevant to his activities."

In his turn, Erik Mkrtchyan reports that he got a call from an unidentified person. The stranger recommended the activist not to attend the rally and warned him that otherwise he would be prosecuted by the law enforcement agencies and he "would face troubles."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.