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STOP LICKING THE OLIGARCHS' BOOTS
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 12 2013
12 September 2013 - 3:57pm
David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
A mass protest of young people against the police took place in
Yerevan. Human rights activists, social and civil activists demanded
that the head of the police, Vladimir Gasparyan, bring to account
policemen who pressured and beat young activists and insulted women
who participated in protests against the authorities. The participants
in the protest addressed Gasparyan: "Stop licking the oligarchs'
boots!" and "Read the law instead of a prayer."
Armenian youth have been becoming active since the beginning of last
year, but real force was gained by the movement after the increase
in public transport ticket prices in Yerevan and the beginning of
the construction of an elite 14-storey residential complex, against
which residents of the neighborhood protested. However, Yerevan Mayor
Taron Markaryan has already stated that "the construction matches
all city-planning norms, and it should be built." According to Mayor,
demands by young people to dismiss the head of the capital transport
department, Henry Navasardyan, and the director of YerevanTrans,
Misak Ambartsumyan, cannot be fulfilled. On August 24 more than 40
activists were arrested.
People are accused of "disobeying the legal demands of the police,"
which are not clear even for policemen. The police cannot explain
what laws have actually been broken by participants of protests. The
only traditional excuse of the police is "we were told and we did it."
After the cruel beating of one of the activists, journalist Argishti
Kiviryan, by three policemen, a criminal case was initiated against
him for "using force against a representative of power." The reason
for the initiation was a report by a policeman, according to which the
journalist "insulted him and punched him, sitting in the police car."
However, there is a video recording on the Armenian internet, which
shows that the policemen beat Kiviryan.
Considering that, the protesters sent a request to the General
Prosecution Service to provide the right to peaceful meetings,
find out and bring to account provocateurs, provide control over
implementation of human rights and initiate criminal cases against
policemen who violate the law. According to the human right activist
Arthur Sakunz, in the context of intensification of civil movements,
the police stopped differentiating between victims of lawlessness and
criminals, and actually defend real criminals. Arrests of activists
are described by Sakunz as "kidnapping", as the police have no legal
reasons for them.
Civil disobedience to illegal decisions of officials seems quite
legal. Considering the fact that the peaceful protests are not
directed against policemen, the police have to show tolerance and
not use force. All recent events confirm that the threat of using
force against protesting young people is a political decision of the
ruling oligarchic regime. However, the resolve of the young people
to fight for their rights means that even a police baton cannot stop
further development of civil movements and disobedience of the illegal
decisions made by the authorities.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/society/45026.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 12 2013
12 September 2013 - 3:57pm
David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
A mass protest of young people against the police took place in
Yerevan. Human rights activists, social and civil activists demanded
that the head of the police, Vladimir Gasparyan, bring to account
policemen who pressured and beat young activists and insulted women
who participated in protests against the authorities. The participants
in the protest addressed Gasparyan: "Stop licking the oligarchs'
boots!" and "Read the law instead of a prayer."
Armenian youth have been becoming active since the beginning of last
year, but real force was gained by the movement after the increase
in public transport ticket prices in Yerevan and the beginning of
the construction of an elite 14-storey residential complex, against
which residents of the neighborhood protested. However, Yerevan Mayor
Taron Markaryan has already stated that "the construction matches
all city-planning norms, and it should be built." According to Mayor,
demands by young people to dismiss the head of the capital transport
department, Henry Navasardyan, and the director of YerevanTrans,
Misak Ambartsumyan, cannot be fulfilled. On August 24 more than 40
activists were arrested.
People are accused of "disobeying the legal demands of the police,"
which are not clear even for policemen. The police cannot explain
what laws have actually been broken by participants of protests. The
only traditional excuse of the police is "we were told and we did it."
After the cruel beating of one of the activists, journalist Argishti
Kiviryan, by three policemen, a criminal case was initiated against
him for "using force against a representative of power." The reason
for the initiation was a report by a policeman, according to which the
journalist "insulted him and punched him, sitting in the police car."
However, there is a video recording on the Armenian internet, which
shows that the policemen beat Kiviryan.
Considering that, the protesters sent a request to the General
Prosecution Service to provide the right to peaceful meetings,
find out and bring to account provocateurs, provide control over
implementation of human rights and initiate criminal cases against
policemen who violate the law. According to the human right activist
Arthur Sakunz, in the context of intensification of civil movements,
the police stopped differentiating between victims of lawlessness and
criminals, and actually defend real criminals. Arrests of activists
are described by Sakunz as "kidnapping", as the police have no legal
reasons for them.
Civil disobedience to illegal decisions of officials seems quite
legal. Considering the fact that the peaceful protests are not
directed against policemen, the police have to show tolerance and
not use force. All recent events confirm that the threat of using
force against protesting young people is a political decision of the
ruling oligarchic regime. However, the resolve of the young people
to fight for their rights means that even a police baton cannot stop
further development of civil movements and disobedience of the illegal
decisions made by the authorities.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/society/45026.html