TER-PETROSSIAN FRUSTRATED POLICEMEN’S PLANS

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[08:41 pm] 24 October, 2007

"I feel ashamed for people who wear uniforms with an emblem of the
Republic of Armenia and beat women. The incident resembles a backstreet
uproar," Alternative Initiative member Nikol Pashinian said today
while commenting on yesterday’s events at Abovian-Koryun intersection.

By saying a backstreet uproar, Pashinian meant the policemen who
had handed out their megaphone, used tear gas and beaten women
with sticks. "We have witnessed how "red berets" hit a reporter. I
immediately recalled the March 8 events in Turkey when women were
severely beaten by policemen in boots."

Pashinian was injured during the clash with the police. The eleven
participants of the march were detained and taken to the police
department. Some of them underwent a forensic examination.

According to Pashinian the arrest was well planned by the police
but their plans dashed away after Ter-Petrossian’s visit. The latter
stated that he would quit the building only with the detainees.

"I daresay people’s collective will-power won over illegality and
permissiveness reigning in the country.

Yesterday we witnessed a new political process which can be stopped
neither by the authorities nor by the police," Pashinian said.