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ACTIVISTS DECIDED TO LEAVE PARK, RETURN TOMORROW TO CONTINUE PROTEST (UPDATED)
epress.am
02.20.2012
7:18 pm: Activists decided to end their protest today and return
to the park tomorrow morning. As told to Epress.am by one of the
activists, Armo Safaryan, their decision is due to the fact that shop
construction was stopped for today and the protective barrier which
was put up around the pavilions has been removed.
6 pm: Commander of the Shushi battalion during the Nagorno-Karabakh
War and one of the founders of the Sardarapat civic movement Jirair
Sefilian said: "I joined the movement late today, but it's very
interesting, in 1988, they were chanting Karabakh, today with same
tone, these youth are chanting Yerevan. I think that this is very
symbolic, because it's time to liberate Yerevan."
5:52 pm: Lieutenant Colonel Karen Movsisyan, talking to activists,
noted that they are fighting a single act with (several) illegal
activities. Several activists have parked themselves inside a kiosk
and aren't preparing to leave. They are demanding the municipality
give them a document promising that all construction work in the park
will be suspended (if only temporarily).
Heritage Party MP Anahit Bakhshyan is speaking with demonstrators,
who say that their protest is peaceful and they aren't carrying out
any unlawful activities.
5:44 pm: Despite the ultimatum of 20 minutes having passed, nothing has
yet happened. Police have said the deadline might be extended somewhat.
In response to police warnings, activists say, "What [rule of] law
are they talking about in all this unlawfulness?"
5:15 pm: Police warn activists that if they don't leave the premises,
they will be fined. But activists have no intention of leaving.
Police refused to respond to human rights campaigner Avetik
Ishkhanyan's question as to what specific penalty awaits activists
if they do not follow police orders.
5:05 pm: Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Robert Melkonyan has given
activists protesting shop construction in Mashtots Park 20 minutes
to voluntarily leave and stop occupying the partially constructed
kiosks - otherwise, police will use lawful means to clear the area.
Despite police orders, activists say they're not preparing to vacate
the premises on which they've been camped out for the second week
in a row. Earlier, activists were singing Armenia's national anthem;
now, they're occupying the kiosks and preventing workers from resuming
construction.
"Returning from [the march to] Yerevan City Hall, people went into the
pavilion and forced the workers to stop their illegal construction
and they informed the Ministry of Urban Development that several
urban development laws are being broken and they are demanding that
a representative come and take note of this fact," one activist,
Apres Zohrabyan, told Epress.am.
"Remove your kiosks from our park"
According to him, the activists entered the park, while police and
construction workers stood aside, as a result of which the activists
were able to occupy the pavilion.
"Don't distort Yerevan's main plan"
"They didn't resist and we entered, then Yerevan Deputy Police Chief
Robert Melkonyan came and negotiated separately with demonstrators
about leaving the pavilion," he said.
The protestors numbering around a 100 currently are being joined by
others, including some famous figures.
"[Heritage Party leader] Raffi Hovannisian is currently in the park
speaking with demonstrators," said Zohrabyan, adding that there's
song and dance, and as a result of their work being obstructed,
the construction workers have gone home while demonstrators rejoice.
"TarON, TarOUT" (referring to Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan)
"Open your boutiques somewhere else! This park is for Yerevan
residents. Stay away from the last green space!"
"No business on account of green public space"
epress.am
02.20.2012
7:18 pm: Activists decided to end their protest today and return
to the park tomorrow morning. As told to Epress.am by one of the
activists, Armo Safaryan, their decision is due to the fact that shop
construction was stopped for today and the protective barrier which
was put up around the pavilions has been removed.
6 pm: Commander of the Shushi battalion during the Nagorno-Karabakh
War and one of the founders of the Sardarapat civic movement Jirair
Sefilian said: "I joined the movement late today, but it's very
interesting, in 1988, they were chanting Karabakh, today with same
tone, these youth are chanting Yerevan. I think that this is very
symbolic, because it's time to liberate Yerevan."
5:52 pm: Lieutenant Colonel Karen Movsisyan, talking to activists,
noted that they are fighting a single act with (several) illegal
activities. Several activists have parked themselves inside a kiosk
and aren't preparing to leave. They are demanding the municipality
give them a document promising that all construction work in the park
will be suspended (if only temporarily).
Heritage Party MP Anahit Bakhshyan is speaking with demonstrators,
who say that their protest is peaceful and they aren't carrying out
any unlawful activities.
5:44 pm: Despite the ultimatum of 20 minutes having passed, nothing has
yet happened. Police have said the deadline might be extended somewhat.
In response to police warnings, activists say, "What [rule of] law
are they talking about in all this unlawfulness?"
5:15 pm: Police warn activists that if they don't leave the premises,
they will be fined. But activists have no intention of leaving.
Police refused to respond to human rights campaigner Avetik
Ishkhanyan's question as to what specific penalty awaits activists
if they do not follow police orders.
5:05 pm: Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Robert Melkonyan has given
activists protesting shop construction in Mashtots Park 20 minutes
to voluntarily leave and stop occupying the partially constructed
kiosks - otherwise, police will use lawful means to clear the area.
Despite police orders, activists say they're not preparing to vacate
the premises on which they've been camped out for the second week
in a row. Earlier, activists were singing Armenia's national anthem;
now, they're occupying the kiosks and preventing workers from resuming
construction.
"Returning from [the march to] Yerevan City Hall, people went into the
pavilion and forced the workers to stop their illegal construction
and they informed the Ministry of Urban Development that several
urban development laws are being broken and they are demanding that
a representative come and take note of this fact," one activist,
Apres Zohrabyan, told Epress.am.
"Remove your kiosks from our park"
According to him, the activists entered the park, while police and
construction workers stood aside, as a result of which the activists
were able to occupy the pavilion.
"Don't distort Yerevan's main plan"
"They didn't resist and we entered, then Yerevan Deputy Police Chief
Robert Melkonyan came and negotiated separately with demonstrators
about leaving the pavilion," he said.
The protestors numbering around a 100 currently are being joined by
others, including some famous figures.
"[Heritage Party leader] Raffi Hovannisian is currently in the park
speaking with demonstrators," said Zohrabyan, adding that there's
song and dance, and as a result of their work being obstructed,
the construction workers have gone home while demonstrators rejoice.
"TarON, TarOUT" (referring to Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan)
"Open your boutiques somewhere else! This park is for Yerevan
residents. Stay away from the last green space!"
"No business on account of green public space"