Police demand to bring leaders of "New Armenia" to administrative responsibility

A petition has been sent to Yerevan Mayor about a start of administrative proceedings against the leaders of the oppositional Front "New Armenia" Zhirayr Sefilyan, Raffi Ovannisyan and Varuzhan Avetisyan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 4 the oppositional Font "New Armenia" held a rally in Yerevan, during which protesters clashed with policemen.

A statement of the Armenian Police says that the "New Armenia" has organized a march "in violation of notification requirements, by creating provocations and pushing people to clashes with the police."

In particular, according to the police, Zhirayr Sefilyan, the leader of the movement "100 Years without Regime", called, despite authorities' ban, to set up a tent in Freedom Square, which led to clashes with the police. During the riots, Raffi Ovannisyan, the leader of the "Heritage" Party, tried to interfere with the legitimate police's actions. Besides, Varuzhan Avetisyan, one of the organizers of the "New Armenia" and a deputy chairman of the "Constituent Parliament", refused to explain to the police the route of the march.

The police also believe that the oppositional leaders have made illegal calls "not related to the right to freedom of assembly", stating that in the coming days they may block streets and premises of state structures.

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