CRIMINAL CASE INSTITUTED TO SOME PARTICIPANTS OF OCTOBER 23 PROCESSION
Noyan Tapan
Oct 24, 2007
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. A criminal case has been instituted
to some participants of the opposition procession organized on October
23 in Yerevan, on the signs of hooliganism and making resistance
to policemen.
Ararat Mahtesian, the First Deputy Head of the RA Police, informed
journalists about it on October 24 at RA NA. He refused to make any
commentary mentioning that a preliminary investigation is carried
out. At the same time, the Deputy Head of Police did not agree to the
journalists’ observation that the procession was peaceful mentioning
that "they have received many complaints from citizens."
Speaking at the parliament’s sitting of the same day, A. Mahtesian
stated that the demonstrants used foul language an behaved impudently:
they did not obey the policemens’ appeals to stop the procession,
moreover, "they made resistance and beat them." According to him,
4 policemen needed medical aid.
The Deputy Head of Police said that part of demonstrants was drunk,
about which there is the respective medical conclusion.
"If we should start our political struggle this way, I think the
Police, as they are empowered by the law, will always follow this
and will prevent acts containing crimes," A. Mahtesian stated. He
also mentioned that he does not think that if those breaking the law
are newspapers’ editors or heads of political parties, the right to
commit a crime is reserved for them.