ARMENIAN POLICE BRACE FOR OPPOSITION PROTEST
By Hasmik Lazarian
Reuters
Feb 27 2009
UK
* Yerevan rally to mark anniversary of deadly riots
* Police warn against trouble ahead of opposition protest
* Last year’s violence followed disputed presidential polls
YEREVAN, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Police in Armenia warned opposition
activists against stirring unrest on Sunday during a protest planned
to mark one year since deadly riots in the former Soviet state.
Ten people, including two police officers, died when police and
protesters clashed in the capital Yerevan on March 1 last year after
the opposition alleged fraud in a presidential election.
Thousands are expected to turn out for Sunday’s demonstration and
police are braced for trouble.
Armenian police chief Alik Sarksyan said police would allow protesters
to "calmly pay their respects to the dead."
But he told a news conference: "I advise that my words be taken
seriously. Don’t allow political forces to influence you. We won’t
allow any disturbances or blocking of traffic."
"The atmosphere of fear must be expelled from the city," Sarksyan
added.
There is already confusion over where the authorities have allowed
demonstrators to gather and march. The opposition said it had not
received a written reply to its application for permission so the
protest would go ahead as planned.
European rights groups voiced concern at police conduct during
the violence last year and the arrest of more than 100 opposition
activists during a state of emergency imposed by the government in
the wake of the unrest.
Armenia’s leaders say they want to build a European-style democracy
and have won Western praise for allowing contested elections. But
opponents say that is a facade and in reality the country is ruled
by a clique who refuse to give their rivals access to political power
or economic influence.
More than 50 people received jail sentences. A number have since been
pardoned but several senior opposition figures — including a former
foreign minister — remain on trial.
The authorities accused the opposition of trying to overthrow
the government after an election won by current President Serzh
Sarksyan. He is not related to the police chief.
Western election monitors said the vote was broadly in line with the
country’s international commitments but that further improvements
were necessary.
New York-based Human Rights Watch on Wednesday accused Armenia of
conducting "politically motivated" trials while failing to investigate
police culpability and evidence of excessive use of force.