POLICEMEN WERE NOT ARMED DURING ON-THE-SPOT CHECK IN LIBERTY SQUARE ON MORNING OF MARCH 1, DEOUTY HEADS OF RA POLICE SAY

Noyan Tapan

Nov 21, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. At the November 20 sitting of the
National Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on Inquiry into the March 1-2 Events
in Yerevan and their Causes, the deputy heads of the RA police Armen
Yeritsian and Hovhannes Hunanian provided explanations about police
actions during the March 1-2 events.

They spoke in detail about the on-the-spot check conducted early
on the morning of March 1 in Liberty Square, as well as about the
police operations under their direction on March 1 in various parts of
Yerevan, including in the area adjacent to the French embassy. In their
words, the policemen who came to Liberty Square at dawn were taken
aback by the "fierce" resistance of the demonstrators. Later it turned
out that the demonstrators had been informed in advance about the
decision to conduct an on-the-spot check by police, and the policeman
who informed them about it has been disclosed and arrested. The deputy
heads of the RA police stated that the policemen were not armed even
by batons, but they were assisted by an armed patrol service.

It should be mentioned that representatives of the opposition Levon
Zurabian and David Shahnazarian who had been invited to the committee’s
sitting did not attend the sitting. The committee chairman, secretary
of the National Assembly "RPA" faction Samvel Nikoyan announced that
they will be invited again as the committee considers it important
to hear both the law enforcers and demonstrators.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress