EMERGENCY REGIME ALLEVIATED IN ARMENIA

ITAR-TASS
March 10 2008
Russia

YEREVAN, March 10 (Itar-Tass) — Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
has lifted some restrictions, which were part of a state of emergency
that was imposed on Yerevan, Viktor Sogomonyan, press secretary of
the Armenian president, told Itar-Tass on Monday. The restrictions,
that were lifted, include a possibility of "a temporary ban on the
work of political parties and other public organisations, which
hamper the elimination of reasons, that brought about the state of
emergency. Another restriction, that was also lifted, gave powers to
the authorities to evict the people, not living in the given area,
if they violated the legal regime of the state of emergency."

"There were no violations of the state of emergency regime in Yerevan
since March 1. The domestic political situation is being stabilised,"
the presidential press secretary continued. The purpose of this step,
among other things, is "to bring the country to a routine everyday
life as soon as possible."

According to the information of Sogomonyan, "specialists from the
president’s apparatus are working to find other legal solutions,"
including to the part of the decree on the state of emergency, which
imposes restrictions on the work of the mass media. "This will permit
to alleviate the restrictions," Sogomonyan said.

The state of emergency was imposed on Yerevan on March 1 for a period
of 20 days after massive unrest in the capital, as a result of which
eight people died and several dozens were wounded. The measures were
taken in conformity with the Constitution of Armenia "for warding
off the threat to the constitutional system, for the purpose of
protecting the rights and lawful interests of the population," the
press secretary said.

The holding of meetings, marches, other massive actions, as well as
strikes, is banned, when a state of emergency is in effect. At the same
time, law enforcement agencies have the right to restrict the movement
of people, if need be, to search people and transport vehicles. The
mass media can publish materials on the state and domestic political
problems only within the framework of official information.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress