INSTIGATORS’ MOVE AND FURTHER HOOLIGAN ACTIONS MADE IT CLEAR THAT INCIDENT HAD BEEN ORGANIZED IN ADVANCE, EYE-WITNESSES OF INCIDENT IN NORTHERN AVENUE ASSERT

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly 3

A number of citizens – participants of the walk in Northern Avenue
sent a letter to A. Mehrabian, the Head of the Police Yerevan
Kentron Department, on July 2, stating in detail what had happened
in Northern Avenue the same evening, classing it as a provocation:
"We ask you to accept it as a report on a committed crime, to carry
out proper investigation, and to disclose those guilty," the citizens’
letter read.

According to that letter, "40-45 young people aged nearly 20-30,
with a sports figure, invaded into Northern Avenue on July 2, at
about 19:00. They had obviously aggressive moods. They came up in two
directions to the participants of the political walk in the Avenue,
voiced insulting expressions addressed to the members of the National
Movement and its leaders. Their actions made it clear that they were
trying to instigate a brawl. The walk participants at once applied to
the policemen keeping the public order, but they did not undertake
any quick action. The swearings were followed by a sudden attack,
hooligan actions, and beating of those in Northern Avenue. A number of
citizens, including women and girls, were cruelly beaten, some received
bodily injuries. The Ambulance service provided first aid to some of
them and a woman was hospitalized. Unless the citizens were reserved,
the provocation would obviously have graver consequences.

We know the following circumstances:

– starting 18:00 the number of policemen obviously exceeded their
number usually keeping public order in Northern Avenue

– from 18:00 rumors went in Northern Avenue that there are dubious
accumulations of young people near the Foreign Ministry building,
House of the Deaf and Dumb, Liberty Square

– citizens noticed policemen and those groups communicating with
each other

– the instigators’ move and hooligan actions done later made it clear
that the incident had been organized in advance

– the instigators’ fugures were evidence that all of them had sports
figures and were recruited especially for committing acts of violence

– it was also obvious that besides committing violence towards
citizens, the instigators had a goal to attack upon the trade centers
in Northern Avenue and to break their windows

– many of citizens – participants of the walk recognized the following
people among them: members of the guards of Mher Sedrakian, Erebuni
prefect, sportsmen of the Boxing School headed by Israyel Hakobkokhian,
and residents of the Erebuni (Tokhmakh) district.

The instigators were drunk.

It was noticeable that the Police obviously did not intend to
immediately prevent the provocation, the policemen, in spite of
citizens’ requests, did not do any quick preventive action.

The policemen intervened only 10-15 minutes after the brawl had started
and then instead of just bringing the hooligans and instigators to
the Police saw them beyond Northern Avenue and set them free.

Nevertheless, the citizens noticed the policemen bring two instigators
to the Police."