Interfax, Russia
Dec 30 2008
U.S. will not help Armenia investigate March riots – ambassador
YEREVAN Dec 30
The U.S. does not have the techniques and equipment to help the
Armenian authorities identify the special devices used by the police
during the riots that occurred in Yerevan in March 2008,
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch said while meeting with
Armenian Prosecutor General Agvan Ovsepyan.
The March 2008 protest rallies in Yerevan were organized by opposition
activists led by former Armenian President Levon Ter- Petrosian, who
did not recognize the outcome of the presidential elections held in
Armenia on February 19, 2008. In March, opposition activists clashed
with police, as a result of which ten people were killed and over 250
were injured.
Three protesters are believed to have been killed as a result of the
use by the police of the special device Cheryomukha-7. A preliminary
investigation showed that the device was used by four policemen, but,
according to Armenian experts, the methodology used does not allow the
identification of the special device.
The Armenian prosecutor general has turned to the OSCE, the UN, the
U.S. embassy in Armenia, and the Council of Europe high commissioner
for human rights for help with the preliminary investigation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
