POLICE DISPERSE ACTION OF PROTEST ORGANIZED IN FRONT OF RA CEC

Noyan Tapan
Feb 19, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Police dispersed the action
of protest organized in front of the RA Central Electoral Commission
building by the Special Regiment youth organization on February 19. As
Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the organization members,
on the occasion of the anniversary of the 2008 presidential elections
they had decided to hold an action of protest reminding that the
elections were held with all-round falsifications. However, some
hours before the announced hour of the action, 14:00, over a dozen
of police cars had blocked the entrance to the park in front of CEC
and police special forces in red berets prohibited 30 demonstrants
to enter the territory, then pushed them driving them away to the
Armenian National Congress building in the vicinity.

Action participant Aram Manukian, a Board member of the Armenian
National Movement party, said in his interview to journalists that the
police forces in red berets were especially rude to girls, as well
as tore the RA tricolor, while the action had been organized within
the framework of the law. "It is merely a manifestation of fear, the
authorities are just terrified, as they know that many people will take
part in our rally to be held on March 1," A. Manukian said. According
to another oppositionist, Matenadaran Deputy Director Arshak Banuchian,
"the policemen executing orders today will become victims of the system
established by their masters tomorrow." In his affirmation, the acts
of violence will contribute to the March 1 rally’s being very crowded.