Protestors attacked themselves! – Armenian Police says

2008-03-01 12:57:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Police made a statement on breaking up of protestors
from the Liberty Square. The head of press-service of the Police
Sayat Shirinyan presented the statement.

‘After the presidential election on 19 February Levon Ter-Petrosyan
and his team started a sit-down strike at the Opera House Square. They
were holding daily rallies and processions to destabilize the situation
in the capital city. Provoking calls and statements sounded at the
rallies. Despite many times warning of the police that such actions
are illegal protestors continued breaking public order and threatening
security of the society. We received an real-time information on 29
February that big number of weapon, grenades, explosives, metal rods
and batons will be delivered to the participants in the rally. We
received the information that provocative actions and mass disorder
will happen in the capital city on 1 March.

Similar real-time information was given to National Security Service.

Policemen called up protestors to give them an opportunity to search
the square, confiscate weapon and not to allow destabilizing of
the situation.

As a respond policemen were suddenly attacked. Participants in the
rally started throwing stones, wood pieces, metal rods and bottles
with explosive mixture at policemen. Calls of forceful overthrowing
of power and insulting policemen sounded. Aggression of protestors was
growing. Stemming from unpredictability of the situation and the nature
of violation the real-time decision was adopted to take measures within
the frames of the law. The lawbreakers started showing resistance
by means of batons and metal rods. As a result of clash there are
injured policemen, which were taken to the hospital. Organizers
and participants in the rally were detained and taken to the
police. There are arrested as well. Several organizers are in the
wanted list. Investigation is underway. Search is being hold within the
frames of the initiated criminal case’,- the statement says. Then the
list of the found over the search weapon is presented. To note, answers
of the head of press-service of the Armenian Police Sayt Shirinyan to
journalists’ questions were under the slogan "there is no information
yet" and "the information is being specified". Shirinyan disproved
the information about using of the tear-gas and water jet cannons,
but he did not rule out using of electric jolt. He does not know how
many peopled were injured from the policemen and protestors. He said
that about 20 people were arrested, there is no specific information.

To note, listing of the weapon arsenal found at Liberty Square caused
a light fun of the people present in the press-conference hall, taking
into consideration the number of weapon which is often confiscated
from criminal leaders and their friends.