CHIEF OF POLICE VOWS TO INSTITUTE STRICT CONTROL IN YEREVAN STREETS
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[04:52 pm] 27 February, 2009
The Chief of the Armenian Police, Alik Sargsyan doesn’t support
the annual report of the U.S. Department of State which gives a
negative evaluation to the violent clashes between the police and
demonstrators in Yerevan on March 1, 2008. In particular, the report
underlines that the Armenian police gave an inadequate response to
the demonstrators. Alik Sargsyan says the U.S. State Department had
better care for the clashes in their country. "The same truncheons,
teargas are used. People are taken into custody."
When journalists reminded that the police don’t open fire at
demonstrators in France, Alik Sargsyan said "the French opposition
only holds peaceful rallies." He also advised journalists to refrain
from comparing Armenia with France.
Let’s remind that during a similar rally in France "peaceful
demonstrators" set hundreds of cars and state buildings on fire and
broke shop windows.
"I don’t think the Armenian police employed excessive force or acted
beyond the law,Â" said Alik Sargsyan.
"I don’t think that active steps are being taken now that may lead to
the violation of human rights," he added regarding the recent report
on Armenia by Human Wrights Watch.
The police didn’t imagine that provocations can be incited, therefore
they didn’t supervise the situation and couldn’t avert the further
clashes in due time.
"Idleness is also considered a crime" reminded the chief of the police
and added that this could be the only indictment.
Alik Sargsyan says they are not concerned about the upcoming rally
of March 1. They are well prepared and will be able to control the
situation round-the-clock. The police will isolate anyone who will
call for mass disorder.
Alik Sargsryan says that people have a right to freely walk in the
streets and look from their balconies. "The atmosphere of fear must be
dispersed in Yerevan", said Alik Sargsryan. The Chief of the Police
announced that the police also had two victims on March 1 and they
are going to honour their memory.