HAK ACTIVISTS GOING ON SITTING PROTEST ON AZATUTYUN SQUARE TODAY: WHAT WILL POLICE DO THIS TIME?

Tert.am
12:07 31.05.10

The recent opening of the Azatutyun (Liberty) Square near the Opera
House in the Centre of Yerevan has been marred by a series of minor
clashes between the police and members of the oppositionist Armenian
National Congress (HAK) as the HAK members attempted to enter the
Square.

Tigran Arakelyan, a HAK Member, told Tert.am that today too they will
try to enter the Azatutyun Square, continue their sitting protest and
present their demands despite the fact that its already several days
since the police is denied them entry.

“We will again go to the Azatutyun Square,” said he, adding that those
who do not allow them to enter the square should give them a new map
that will clearly mentions where they can promenade and where not.

Vladimir Karapetyan, another HAK member, told Tert.am that on Sunday
HAK’s young activists again were denied entry to the square. He also
said that since 6-6:30 am Sunday they attempted to enter the Square
but the police and “civilian skinheads” did not allow them to do so.

Further he said that he, together with the former political prisoner
Vardges Gaspari, was taken to the police station and were released
after three hours of detention.

“We are going to realize our rights vested by the law,” said
Karapetyan, adding that at 6pm today he will again attempt to enter
and have a walk on Azatutyun Square.

From: A. Papazian