Yerevan riot centralized, Armenian prosecutor general states
YEREVAN, March 7. /ARKA/. The mass riots in Yerevan were masterminded
and controlled by one center, RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan
told reporters, presenting the evidence obtained during the preliminary
investigation.
`This is evidenced by which shops were plundered and representatives of
which government bodies were attacked during the riots in Yerevan,’
Hovsepyan said.
In this context he explained that the shops at the House of Moscow were
plundered, whereas the Gladzor university, which is in immediate
proximity to the House of Moscow, remained intact.
`This suggests certain conclusions to us,’ Hovsepyan said. He pointed
out that he by no means thinks that all the participants in the
opposition-organized rallies were involved in the plunder and progroms.
`However, I assure you that all the structures formed to organize the
riots, seize power and violate the constitutional order will be
identified,’ he said.
On March 1, the police dispersed the rally. The same day the
demonstrators moved toward the French Embassy.
The RA Police Department reports that the situation was impossible to
control, and the crowd began plundering the state and privately-owned
facilities.
On March 1, when RA President Robert Kocharyan issued a decree
declaring a state of emergency, the police put an end to the unrest.
Eight persons were killed. `0′