State of emergency imposed on Armenia

2008-03-01 22:09:00

ArmInfo. By Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s decree, since March
1 a state of emergency has been imposed for 20 days. ArmInfo received
the relevant decree of the Armenian president from the presidential
press-service.

According to the decree, presidential self-nominee Levon Ter-Petrossyan
and his entourage, a group of adventurers, didn’t come to terms
with the reality of their defeat and undertook unlawful actions,
particularly, stockpiling of weapons and ammunition and their delivery
to crowded places seriously threatening the citizens’ lives and health,
as well as holding of unsanctioned rallies and processions.

The decree says that although the vote recount organized by the
presidential candidates’ demand revealed no serious violations,
Administrative Courts received no complaints, and the Constitutional
Court is considering the complaints concerning the election, Levon
Ter-Petrossyan’s supporters continue disputing the election returns
by illegal methods. The group of oppositionists organized disorders in
the center of Yerevan on March 1, caused damage to the state property
and the citizens’ property and directly threatened the citizens’
security. This made the situation uncontrolled.

These actions were targeted at the stability achieved by Armenia,
as a consequence, this affected the international image of the
country. "As the guarantor of RA Constitution, I will let nobody
threaten the constitutional order in the country", the decree says.

So as to prevent direct threat to the constitutional order and based
on point 14 of article 55 of the Constitution of Armenia, Kocharyan
has consulted with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia
and the Prime Minister of Armenia and has signed the given decree.

The decree imposes a state of emergency in Yerevan for 20 days starting
from March 1.

The decree prohibits assemblies, demonstrations, processions and other
mass actions, strikes and other actions preventing normal activities of
organizations. If necessary, the police are empowered to restrict the
movement of citizens and vehicles. The coverage of state and internal
political problems by the mass media should not go beyond official
information. No leaflets or other political propaganda materials should
be published without the permission of relevant authorities. People
violating the requirements of the state of emergency and not living
in given territory should be deported therefrom. If those people have
no means, their deportation should be financed from the budget.

"I urge everybody to show restraint and good sense. I urge you to
stick together and comply with the law. I assure you that the state
of emergency will be lifted as soon as all the circumstances that
have caused it are overcome," Kocharyan said.