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POLICE GROSSLY VIOLATED THE LAW IN GYUMRI DURING PROTESTS
01.16.2015 13:04 epress.am
Yesterday night, during the protests in Gyumri, the police grossly
violated the law, according to a statement by the Union of Informed
Citizens NGO. The statement titled "The police did everything possible
for police officers to get injured" recalls the events in which a
portion of the peaceful protesters during yesterday's protest in
Gyumri decided to move toward the Russian Consulate.
"The police created barricades 200 meters from the consulate bulding
and created obstacles for the then peaceful protest, grossly violating
the law "on Freedom of Assembly," because the law does not include
any limitations on assembling around diplomatic representations in
regards to the rights of citizens.
Among the protesters, there indeed were aggressive citizens, who were
indignant toward the police's attempt to suspend the protest. The
police, for their part, instead of calming down the aggressive
citizens, took actions directed towards forcefully halting the protest,
which led to using special measures (stun grenades and batons).
As a consequence to the police's inappropriate actions, multiple
citizens received physical injuries, which, of course, further
angered the protesters and motivated the latter to use violence
against the police.
Knowing all that and having undertaken numerous trainings for
dispersing protests, still, the officers in the left flank (police
view) of the barricade were unprotected without shields and helmets.
It is obvious that during the clash, the police were ordered to go
forward on the front line without helmets and shields and there were
bound to be victims, which did, in fact, happen.
Based on the above mentioned, we find that the Armenian Police must
answer the following questions:
1. Why, in contrast to the law "on Freedom of Assembly," was the
citizens' rally toward the Russian Consulate prevented;
2. Why did the police decide to disperse the protest by special
measures and not (implement) the isolation of the aggressive
participants;
3. Why were around 20 police officers ordered to stand in the front
line without helmets and shields (eastern flank)?
Note, that the police's actions were coordinated by Armenian Deputy
Police Chief, Military Police commander Levon Yeranosyan, who, in
contrast with the officers standing in the front line (left flank),
wore a helmet," reads the statement.
Recall, as a result of clashes between the protesters and the police
forces, 10 people have been injured, another 12 have been detained.
The protesters demanded that the suspect in the killings of 6 members
of a local family, Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, as well as
the investigation of the case be handed over to the Armenian law
enforcement bodies.
Photo released by Union of Informed Citizens NGO
http://www.epress.am/en/2015/01/16/police-grossly-violated-the-law-in-gyumri-during-protests.html
01.16.2015 13:04 epress.am
Yesterday night, during the protests in Gyumri, the police grossly
violated the law, according to a statement by the Union of Informed
Citizens NGO. The statement titled "The police did everything possible
for police officers to get injured" recalls the events in which a
portion of the peaceful protesters during yesterday's protest in
Gyumri decided to move toward the Russian Consulate.
"The police created barricades 200 meters from the consulate bulding
and created obstacles for the then peaceful protest, grossly violating
the law "on Freedom of Assembly," because the law does not include
any limitations on assembling around diplomatic representations in
regards to the rights of citizens.
Among the protesters, there indeed were aggressive citizens, who were
indignant toward the police's attempt to suspend the protest. The
police, for their part, instead of calming down the aggressive
citizens, took actions directed towards forcefully halting the protest,
which led to using special measures (stun grenades and batons).
As a consequence to the police's inappropriate actions, multiple
citizens received physical injuries, which, of course, further
angered the protesters and motivated the latter to use violence
against the police.
Knowing all that and having undertaken numerous trainings for
dispersing protests, still, the officers in the left flank (police
view) of the barricade were unprotected without shields and helmets.
It is obvious that during the clash, the police were ordered to go
forward on the front line without helmets and shields and there were
bound to be victims, which did, in fact, happen.
Based on the above mentioned, we find that the Armenian Police must
answer the following questions:
1. Why, in contrast to the law "on Freedom of Assembly," was the
citizens' rally toward the Russian Consulate prevented;
2. Why did the police decide to disperse the protest by special
measures and not (implement) the isolation of the aggressive
participants;
3. Why were around 20 police officers ordered to stand in the front
line without helmets and shields (eastern flank)?
Note, that the police's actions were coordinated by Armenian Deputy
Police Chief, Military Police commander Levon Yeranosyan, who, in
contrast with the officers standing in the front line (left flank),
wore a helmet," reads the statement.
Recall, as a result of clashes between the protesters and the police
forces, 10 people have been injured, another 12 have been detained.
The protesters demanded that the suspect in the killings of 6 members
of a local family, Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, as well as
the investigation of the case be handed over to the Armenian law
enforcement bodies.
Photo released by Union of Informed Citizens NGO
http://www.epress.am/en/2015/01/16/police-grossly-violated-the-law-in-gyumri-during-protests.html