ON OCTOBER 23 POLICEMEN BEAT NOT ONLY PARTICIPANTS OF<br /> PROCESSION AND JOURNALISTS, BUT ALSO BY-PASSERS, MEDIA<br /> REPRESENTATIVES AFFIRM<br />


ON OCTOBER 23 POLICEMEN BEAT NOT ONLY PARTICIPANTS OF
PROCESSION AND JOURNALISTS, BUT ALSO BY-PASSERS, MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES AFFIRM

  • 01-11-2007 18:05:00   | Armenia  |  Social
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The investigation group examining the criminal case on the fact of the incident, which happened during the October 23 rally, seeks to present the case the way that allegedly the number of the demonstrants exceeded 100, while their number was no more than 30. Taguhi Tovmasian, a correspondent of the Chorrord Ishkhanutiun newspaper, a witness on the case, said in her interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent. She assured that this is done for grounding procession's being illegal, because, if the number of participants of such events exceeds 99, according to the law, it is necessary to apply to the Mayor's Office in advance to receive a sanction. The demonstrants are charged with using violence to a power representative, as well as with violating street traffic, while they, according to R. Tovmasian, walked only along the pavement, and street traffic was stopped by the very policemen. Another correspondent of Chorrord Ishkhanutiun beaten during the incident by policemen, Gohar Vezirian, mentioned that she did not take part in the procession and appeared on the scene after the newspaper's editor had told her to cover the procession. According to the correspondent, for policemen, it was not important whom they were beating: they were even attacking by-passers. "I saw them cruelly beating Sukiasian Manuk (a member of the Alternative political-public initiative: NT) and came up to representatives of special detachments surrounding him thinking that seeing my camera they will stop their "business." However, Lieutenant-Colonel Arayik Petrosian started striking me from back and scolding." It should be mentioned that as a result of beating G. Vezirian, according to preliminary diagnosis, received concussion of the brain. She said that though she visited a forensic doctor, she has not received his conclusion yet. "I have no special expectations from that paper, as such papers are mainly written in this country "by state order," by orders "from above," the journalist said.
  -   Social