EC CALLS ON ARMENIA TO CANCEL STATE OF EMERGENCY IN YEREVAN

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 4, 2008
Russia

The European Commission has insistently called on the Armenian
authorities to cancel the state of emergency in Yerevan introduced on
March 1 and urged all political forces to abstain from the use of force
and to begin a dialogue in order to overcome the existing differences.

"I also call on the Armenian authorities to lift all restrictions on
the free movement of former candidate for the presidency Levon Ter-
Petrosian and to release all citizens detained for the execution of
their right to the freedom of assemblies," European Commissioner for
External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-
Waldner said in a statement.

Thirty people were apprehended within the framework of the
investigation of a criminal case into March riots in Yerevan,
the press service of the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office told
Interfax on Monday, adding that the case is probed by the special
investigative service.

These people were detained "for using violence against police officers,
appeals to resist the decision to terminate public actions organized
in violation of the law, as well as inciting and staging mass riots,"
the press service said.

"There are people with earlier convictions, including with six previous
convictions, among those detained," the press service said.

The special investigative service, takes measures to expose all
those who used force against police officers, who were ensuring and
maintaining order in Yerevan, as well as to expose those who incited
and staged the riots, the press service said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress