Armenian police chief calls on people to stay out of illegal rallies

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
6 Apr 04

[Presenter] The head of the Yerevan Police Department announced today
that an investigation is under way to reveal the people who broke
journalists’ cameras during the rally organized by the National Unity
Party [on 5 April]. The head of the police department also confirmed
that in cooperation with relevant services, checkpoints had been
posted on roads leading to the capital, preventive measures had been
implemented, and suspects with aggressive behaviour who took part in
the rally had been invited to police departments.

[Head of the Yerevan Police Department Col Nerses Nazaryan, captioned]
Fifteen minutes before the beginning of the rally, Mr Gegamyan [leader
of the National Unity Party Artashes Gegamyan] called on people who
gathered outside the Nairi cinema to move forward and continue the
rally there. This caused chaos which disrupted the work of the city
transport and of various facilities located in that area. This also
provoked the dissatisfaction of the citizens who against their will
became participants in the rally. Why am I saying rally? Because
during meetings with voters, they ask questions and answer them. In
this case, only Mr Gegamyan made a speech, which, in my opinion, could
have been done on TV, newspapers, but not by disrupting traffic.

All preventive measures will be taken in cooperation with appropriate
services. I would also like to note that schoolchildren and teenagers
became participants in the rally. As a person responsible for the
political situation in Yerevan, I would like to appeal to out citizens
to stay out of provocation and illegal developments and not to let
anyone turn our day by day flourishing city into the scene of illegal
demonstrations and rallies.