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OCCUPY MASHTOTS PARK ACTIVISTS TO BEGIN SIT-IN AMID POLICE WARNINGS
epress.am
03.13.2012
Environmental and civic activists who have been coming nearly every
day for almost a month to Mashtots Park to protest the construction
of shops say they will begin a round-the-clock sit-in in the central
Yerevan park.
Recall, the shops were dismantled on Abovyan St. and moved to Mashtots
Park where city officials say they will remain for 3 years (till the
end of the city's 10-year contract with shop owners). Activists,
however, continue to protest their construction in one of the few
remaining green spaces in the downtown core.
On a statement published on their Facebook page, Mashtots Park
activists say they give city authorities until Mar. 16 to demolish
the partially constructed shops.
Asked by Epress.am what they'll do if the deadline is not met,
activist Ruzanna Grigoryan said they intend to dismantle the kiosks
with their own hands.
Responding to the environmentalists' statements, Armenia's police force
issued a statement of its own, warning activists and reminding them
that seizing anyone else's private property is a gross violation of
the law, which can be considered nothing other than taking the law
into one's own hands.
"Moreover, the illegal demolition of the pavilions inevitably will
cause a considerable amount of damage to property owned by persons,
which is a crime according to RA Criminal Code Article 185 ("willful
destruction or destroying of property"), which those guilty of
inevitably will be subject to criminal responsibility," reads the
police statement.
Note, those found guilty according to this criminal code article may
be punished with a fine in the amount of 50 to 100 minimal salaries,
or correctional labor for up to 1 year, or with arrest for a term of
up to 2 months, or with imprisonment for the term of up to 2 years.
The police also caution that holding rallies with the aim of the
illegal, "rebellious" demolition of pavilions doesn't defend the right
to freedom of assembly by law. Police urge the public to refrain from
such actions and not heed any calls inciting illegal actions.
epress.am
03.13.2012
Environmental and civic activists who have been coming nearly every
day for almost a month to Mashtots Park to protest the construction
of shops say they will begin a round-the-clock sit-in in the central
Yerevan park.
Recall, the shops were dismantled on Abovyan St. and moved to Mashtots
Park where city officials say they will remain for 3 years (till the
end of the city's 10-year contract with shop owners). Activists,
however, continue to protest their construction in one of the few
remaining green spaces in the downtown core.
On a statement published on their Facebook page, Mashtots Park
activists say they give city authorities until Mar. 16 to demolish
the partially constructed shops.
Asked by Epress.am what they'll do if the deadline is not met,
activist Ruzanna Grigoryan said they intend to dismantle the kiosks
with their own hands.
Responding to the environmentalists' statements, Armenia's police force
issued a statement of its own, warning activists and reminding them
that seizing anyone else's private property is a gross violation of
the law, which can be considered nothing other than taking the law
into one's own hands.
"Moreover, the illegal demolition of the pavilions inevitably will
cause a considerable amount of damage to property owned by persons,
which is a crime according to RA Criminal Code Article 185 ("willful
destruction or destroying of property"), which those guilty of
inevitably will be subject to criminal responsibility," reads the
police statement.
Note, those found guilty according to this criminal code article may
be punished with a fine in the amount of 50 to 100 minimal salaries,
or correctional labor for up to 1 year, or with arrest for a term of
up to 2 months, or with imprisonment for the term of up to 2 years.
The police also caution that holding rallies with the aim of the
illegal, "rebellious" demolition of pavilions doesn't defend the right
to freedom of assembly by law. Police urge the public to refrain from
such actions and not heed any calls inciting illegal actions.