THE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS AND THE `HEDGEHOGS’

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 23, 2008
Armenia

As reported by the General Prosecutor’s Office, the joint investigative
operations initiated by the National Security Service and the special
investigative bodies in connection with the March 1-2 disorders have
allowed to find out the place where the so-called `hedgehogs’ –
metallic constructions used as weapons for causing bodily damages, were
prepared; the customer and the service-provider have been identified.

It turned out that on February 29, 2008 citizen Vrezh Nikolyan received
an instruction from his relative Hamlet Hovhannisyan (with the nickname
`Tros Hamo’) for the preparation of 80 metallic constructions with
sharp-edged steel frameworks.

Having received its sample from the Theatrical Square, near the tent of
`Special Regiment’ NGO (the sample was provided by one of the members
of the regiment), he visited the shop of construction materials
situated in Shiraz Str. 13 and ordered welder Hrachya Sahakyan to
prepare the metallic sticks. The issue had been previously agreed with
Armen Haladjyan, manager of the shop.

After the 80 metallic constructions – the so-called `hedgehogs’, were
prepared, Nikolyan instructed the people sent by Hamlet Haroutyunyan to
move them to the Theatrical Square. The next day, on March 1, they were
used for inciting violence and mass disorders against the police
officers.

Considering the high-sounding publicity of the case, the press service
of the General Prosecutor’s Office has published the testimonies of
Vrezh Nikolyan, shop manager Armen Haladjyan and welder Hrachya
Sahakayan. Those materials have been made available partially, so as
not to prevent the further inquest of the case.

In his testimonies, Vrezh Nikolyan admitted that he had previously
known that the `hedgehogs’ were envisaged for putting up resistance
against the police forces.

`After obtaining Hamlet Hovhannisyan’s consent, I went to the shop
belonging to Armen Haladjyan, and there, I gave the sample to welder
Hrach and offered him to prepare 80 sharp-edged metallic constructions
with a length of 10-12 cm,’ V. Nikolyan reported. He also added that
after taking the constructions from the shop, he sent them to the
Theatrical Square through some entrusted individuals.

The same day, around 20:00 p.m., he called Hamlet Hovhannisyan and
informed him that the constructions had been taken to the Theatrical
Square. `At the same time, I asked Hamlet whether the sharp-edged iron
constructions were normal or not. Hamlet answered that they were `ok’,’
V. Nikolyan mentioned.

In their testimonies, Armen Haladjyan and welder Hrachya Sahakyan
confirmed that the metallic constructions had been prepared in their
shop at the request of Vrezh Nikolyan, and according to his
instruction, the sticks were cut slantwise for obtaining sharp edges.
According to Mr. Haladjyan, Nikolyan paid 10 thousand Drams for the
order; as to the remaining sum of 25 thousand Drams, he hasn’t paid it
so far.

`After the well-known incidents, I watched television and saw the
crossed sticks that were used against the police with the purpose of
inciting violence,’ A. Haladjyan said and added that he had phoned Mr.
Nikolyan on March 2 and asked him not to tell anyone about the metallic
sticks.

Welder H. Sahakyan reconfirmed his testimony during the investigative
expertise as well.

V. Nikolyan has been arrested on charges of organizing mass disorders,
and H. Hovhannisyan is being searched by the Police.

And you were saying `peaceful demonstrators’. Pardon? Don’t you say it
any more? Good for you.