TWO YEARS LATER

February 23, 2010

Yesterday the police hindered the march held by the young activists of
the Armenian National Congress, causing a scuffle. On February 19 was
the second anniversary of the tragic events of presidential elections
2008. Because of the occasion several hundred young people held a
protest rally in downtown Yerevan. The march reached the building
of the Central Electoral Commission from the ANC office located on
Koryun street. At the intersection of Abobyan and Sayat-Nova streets
the protesters made an attempt to break through a police cordon. The
police appealed to the participants to finish the march. Around the
corner of the CEC, on Koryun Street, the red berets attacked the
participants of the march. As a result, six activists, including the
son of the editor of the Haykakan Zhamanak Haik Gevorgyan named Vahagn,
were taken to the police station, and Sargis Ghazaryan was taken to
Grigor Lusavorich hospital. The policemen released the protesters
in 10 minutes. Further on, near the ANC office, the police arrested
another 5 activists, including Vahagn Gevorgyan. Protesters’ inquiries
about the arrested activists were met with silence.

Following this incident, the Armenian National Congress made
a statement condemning the unlawful action of the police, which
assaulted the activists instead of guaranteeing their security. It
is obvious that this activation of the police is connected with the
upcoming rally to take place on March 1. During the past several
months the ANC activists were holding various rallies and actions
every Friday in Yerevan. During these actions the police would just
mildly interfere. However, this time the police and the red beret
officers were ordered to demonstrate force to intimidate people
closer to March 1. And this happens in the case when the government
and governmental media outlets always repeat that the reputation of
the opposition is falling.