ACCORDING TO SAYAT SHIRINIAN, VIDEO FOOTAGE SHOWING USE OF ARMS AGAINST PEOPLE IS COARSE MONTAGE

Noyan Tapan
March 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The allegations that arms were used
against the people are not true, the head of the RA Police PR and
Information Department Sayat Shirinian stated at the March 12 press
conference, pointing out that under those conditions policemen
definitely had the right to use arms and their actions would be
legal and natural. In his words, the video footage showing the use of
arms against people is a "very coarse montage" which aims to mislead
citizens once more.

The first deputy commander of police troops Colonel Gegham Petrosian
also stated that no combat arms were used by police troops on
March 1-2. He explained to reporters that the noncombat types of
arms brought to the press conference hall were used on the day of
mass disorders. Among these arms were sub-machine guns, from which
live cartridges cannot be fired because in this case the muzzle may
explode and the rifleman may receive serious injuries. This weapon
is only used for nonbullet cartridges.

According to G. Petrosian, it is impossible to see the firing line
while shooting with live cartridges as is seen in the footage. "The
bullet comes out instantly, without a fire." A pistol with
rubber cartridges and a tear grenade were also demonstrated to
reporters. "When it is thrown, no explosion follows, while in the
footage you hear the sound of an explosion after quite a long time,"
which, according to the police officials, also shows that the footage
has been edited.

G. Petrosian said that the police officer died after he had thrown
himself on a combat grenade in order to save the lives of his
subordinates. "5-6 grenades were thrown on us," he said. In response
to the question: "Is it known which unedited shots were used to make
the footage?", the police officials replied that there are many shots,
and it takes a long time to find which were edited. One thing is clear:
it was a coarse montage by means of "pasting feet to head".

In connection with the assurances of a representative of the Special
Investigation Service that "all actions of the policemen have become
a subject of special examination and these actions will be assessed,"
Gegham Petrosian said that he is informed only about the internal
investigation to reveal the circumstances of the death of the police
officer: explanations were already received from soldiers and officers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress