GREATER DESIRE TO STROLL
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12:58 pm | April 09, 2009
Politics
The Armenian National Congress weighs the events that took place on
Northern Avenue in the past two days as the administration’s decision
to start its candidate’s election campaign a month early.
On April 7, the line of police officers attacked citizens taking a
"political" stroll on Northern Avenue when they let balloons with
the slogan "Free and Independent Armenia" fly in the air.
On April 8, the line of police officers closed down Northern Avenue
from both sides.
"They weren’t satisfied with that and fulfilled the command to try to
disperse the citizens. As a precautionary measure, they arrested ten
activists, including coordinator of the Armenian National Congress
Levon Zurabyan," as stated in the ANC statement.
But all this led to the protests demonstrated on the streets
of Tumanyan, Teryan and Sayat-Nova screaming the slogans of the
movement. Passer-bys and drivers joined with great enthusiasm. When it
already became clear that the "plan" had failed, the Kentron police
division released the detainees after keeping them for nearly two
hours and asked their forgiveness for the misunderstanding.
"This was yet another failed attempt to put an end to the daily
"political" strolls on Northern Avenue. These attempts are made
especially when the administration fears something. After each failed
attempt, people have a greater desire to come out for a stroll in
the evening. The Armenian National Congress advises the authorities
to come to grips with the reality that has been facing them for more
than a year and calls on the police to not fulfill the commands that
infringe upon human rights," as stated in the ANC statement.