02:08, 2 August 2015

Yerevan activists call police to refuse using force against them

The police cars in the streets of Yerevan during the protest action against the increase of electricity tariff. July 2015. Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for the "Caucasian Knot"

The movement "Arise, Armenia!" has condemned the actions of policemen, who prevent protesters against the increase in electricity tariff from occupying the mosaic stone carpet in the middle of the Republic Square in Yerevan. Activists have called the police to promote the peaceful picket.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since July 27 activists of the civil initiative "Arise, Armenia!" began their picket against the increase of electricity tariff in Republic Square. Picketers attempt to break through policemen's cordon of and stay in the centre of the square, but law enforcers drive them outside the cordon. On July 29, during another confrontation with the police David Sanasaryan, a member of the movement, was traumatized.

Tonight, the movement "Arise, Armenia!" has spread a statement calling the police to follow the law and remove the cordon on the way to the centre of the square, and "following the law, to facilitate a peaceful picket."

Activists believe that the policemen's actions infringe the citizens' right of the freedom of assembly.

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

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent