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SEVEN HOUR SEARCH OF FOUNDING PARLIAMENT OFFICE ENDS: SEIZED ITEMS TRUCKED AWAY
Zaruhi Mejlumyan
16:27, April 7, 2015
The seven hour search of the Yerevan central office of the Founding
Parliament (FP) organization by Armenian law enforcement wrapped up
minutes ago.
Items seized during the search have been loaded onto a waiting truck
The search began at 6:30 this morning according to an earlier
communique by the FB. During the search, several night watchmen and
an adolescent, were locked in the office and couldn't leave.
Before the search was over, FP member Gagik Sarukhanyan arrived on the
scene and opened the door with a key in his possession. An individual
in civilian clothes standing inside showed Sarukhanyan his certificate.
- Show me the court order allowing the search, Sarukhanyan demanded.
- The inspector will arrive and present it, said the individual
who closed the door from the inside.
"Even if the government allows a rally on the slopes of Mt. Aragatz,
there will be regime change. The authorities know what they have
cooked up - exodus and a bad social situation. There's no doubt that
the end of this regime has arrived," said Karabakh War vet Sarukhanyan.
FP member Vardan Hakobyan noted that the government could not halt
the popular movement by isolating certain individuals.
"This was the worst thing it [the government] could have done.
Everyone expected this given what happened at Berdzor and the
provocative actions in Gyumri. They have confused peaceful disobedience
with widespread disorder. If they want the people's rage, they will
have it," said Hakobyan.
FP member Garo Yegnukian told Hetq that ten staffers from the National
Security Service arrived at his house at 6:30 this morning to search
the place. Yegnukian told them to wait for his attorney.
"In the presence of my attorney and two other witnesses they searched
my apartment. Maybe they were looking for guns and ammo, but there
wasn't any," Yegnukian said.
Yegnukian told Hetq that cops seized three computers and memory chips
containing videos of the Berdzor incident, FP booklets and flyers
and CDs.
"They counted some 680 booklets and flyers and took them. They
took stuff not even remotely connected to the Founding Parliament,"
Yegnukian said.
He said they seized money, a watch, pens and paper and was told that
he should give testimony in the case as a witness.
"This seemed strange and I refused to offer any testimony. A bit later
they told me I was free to go but they never returned any of my stuff.
They wanted to arrest me but seemed to change their mind at the last
minute," Yegnukian told Hetq.
Earlier this morning, law enforcement searched the homes of several
FP members and detained a handful including Jirair Sefilyan and Pavel
Manukyan. Four individuals (Varuzhan Avetisyan, Pavel Manukyan, Gevorg
Safaryan and Jirair Sefilyan) have since been arrested on charges of
planning to foment public disturbances during events marking April
24 in Yerevan.
http://hetq.am/eng/news/59485/seven-hour-search-of-founding-parliament-office-ends-seized-items-trucked-away.html
Zaruhi Mejlumyan
16:27, April 7, 2015
The seven hour search of the Yerevan central office of the Founding
Parliament (FP) organization by Armenian law enforcement wrapped up
minutes ago.
Items seized during the search have been loaded onto a waiting truck
The search began at 6:30 this morning according to an earlier
communique by the FB. During the search, several night watchmen and
an adolescent, were locked in the office and couldn't leave.
Before the search was over, FP member Gagik Sarukhanyan arrived on the
scene and opened the door with a key in his possession. An individual
in civilian clothes standing inside showed Sarukhanyan his certificate.
- Show me the court order allowing the search, Sarukhanyan demanded.
- The inspector will arrive and present it, said the individual
who closed the door from the inside.
"Even if the government allows a rally on the slopes of Mt. Aragatz,
there will be regime change. The authorities know what they have
cooked up - exodus and a bad social situation. There's no doubt that
the end of this regime has arrived," said Karabakh War vet Sarukhanyan.
FP member Vardan Hakobyan noted that the government could not halt
the popular movement by isolating certain individuals.
"This was the worst thing it [the government] could have done.
Everyone expected this given what happened at Berdzor and the
provocative actions in Gyumri. They have confused peaceful disobedience
with widespread disorder. If they want the people's rage, they will
have it," said Hakobyan.
FP member Garo Yegnukian told Hetq that ten staffers from the National
Security Service arrived at his house at 6:30 this morning to search
the place. Yegnukian told them to wait for his attorney.
"In the presence of my attorney and two other witnesses they searched
my apartment. Maybe they were looking for guns and ammo, but there
wasn't any," Yegnukian said.
Yegnukian told Hetq that cops seized three computers and memory chips
containing videos of the Berdzor incident, FP booklets and flyers
and CDs.
"They counted some 680 booklets and flyers and took them. They
took stuff not even remotely connected to the Founding Parliament,"
Yegnukian said.
He said they seized money, a watch, pens and paper and was told that
he should give testimony in the case as a witness.
"This seemed strange and I refused to offer any testimony. A bit later
they told me I was free to go but they never returned any of my stuff.
They wanted to arrest me but seemed to change their mind at the last
minute," Yegnukian told Hetq.
Earlier this morning, law enforcement searched the homes of several
FP members and detained a handful including Jirair Sefilyan and Pavel
Manukyan. Four individuals (Varuzhan Avetisyan, Pavel Manukyan, Gevorg
Safaryan and Jirair Sefilyan) have since been arrested on charges of
planning to foment public disturbances during events marking April
24 in Yerevan.
http://hetq.am/eng/news/59485/seven-hour-search-of-founding-parliament-office-ends-seized-items-trucked-away.html