"DECISIVE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TOWARDS THEM WHO TO ATTEMPT TO DESTABILIZE SITUATION" RA FIRST DEPUTY CHIEF POLICE OFFICER STATES

Noyan Tapan
May 10 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Materials are being prepared at
present at the Prosecutor’s Office of the communities of Kentron
and Nork Marash to give a legal estimation to the May 9 mass meeting
organized by the opposing Hanrapetutiun (Republic), Nor Zhamanakner
(New Times) parties and Impeachment alliance and to actions of the
march participants. Ararat Mahtesian, the RA First Deputy Chief Police
Officer stated about it at the May 10 meeting with journalists.

Particularly, in his words, it must be checked who used the tear-gas
in front of the NSS building: do they the police employees or the
march participants? A. Mahtesian stated that police employees as
well suffered from the tear-gas, and 3 policemen got bodily injuries
and went to the hospital. The incident lasted for 30-35 minutes was
shot. It, according to the estimation of the First Deputy Chief Police
Officer, is a display of disobedience and group hooliganism.

A. Mahtesian stated that the mass meeting of the Hanrapetutiun,
Nor Zhamanakner parties and Impeachment alliance in the territory
neighboring to Matenadaran (Armenian repository of ancient manuscrips)
at 18:20 of May 9 was privileged, but the march followed it and the
mass meeting organized after it in Azatutiun (Liberty) square were
not privileged. So, in his words, the mass meeting participants,
holding a march through the Mashtots avenue, Sayat-Nova and Nalbandian
streets, violated the public peace and hampered street traffic which
are violations envisaged by the law.

"The operative situation in the capital is completely controlled, the
highest possible is done and will be done within the framework of the
law to keep the public order, prevent any display of offence and take
decisive measures towards those who will attempt to destabilize the
situation," is said in the statement of the RA Police. Responding the
question if it is a threat addressed to the opposition, A. Mahtesian
said: "It is a call which the Police is obliged to make and will make."