Riot Police, Protesters Clash in Yerevan
EU, Russia Join U.S. in Condemning Armed Occupation
YEREVAN (A.W)—Armenian law enforcement authorities cleared a street in Yerevan’s Erebuni district on the early morning of July 21, after officers and protesters clashed outside the police station, which has been occupied by an armed opposition group since July 17.
Armenian law enforcement authorities cleared a street in Yerevan’s Erebuni district on the early morning of July 21, after officers and protesters clashed outside the police station, which has been occupied by an armed opposition group since July 17. (Photo: Photolure)
After ignoring repeated warnings to disperse, demonstrators clashed with riot police by throwing stones and other objects in their direction. Nearly all of the protesters were detained as officers punched, kicked, and dragged them away, according to a report by RFE/RL’s Armenian service Azatutyun.am. It was also reported that the police used shields, clubs, tear gas, and stun grenades during the clash, and that at least 45 policemen and protesters were injured as a result.
Though the number of the detainees was not immediately clear, they did include two senior members of politician Nikol Pashinian’s opposition Civil Contract party. Pashinian said that he rushed to Khorenatsi street leading to the police station on the night of July 20, shortly after some 200 protesters began attacking law enforcement forces in an attempt to enter the grounds of the occupied building.
“Wednesday’s violence ended after Pashinian’s intervention, helped by the presence of two Armenian priests. The angry crowd built a barricade with plastic trash bins before shrinking in size in the following hours,” read a part of RFE/RL’s report about the incident.
EU, Russia Join U.S. in Condemning Armed Occupation
On July 21, the European Union and Russia joined the United States in condemning the deadly attack and occupation of the police station in Yerevan.
“We stress that the use of force to achieve political change is unacceptable and offer our condolences to the family of Colonel Artur Vanoyan, Deputy Commander of the Patrol Regiment of the Yerevan Police Department [killed in the attack,]” the EU Delegation in Armenia said in a statement.
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that Russia regards the crime as “unacceptable,” and said that it poses a “direct threat to the life and security of the country’s citizens.”
Two days earlier, the U.S. State Department condemned the seizure and urged Armenian law enforcement authorities to show restraint with the 18 men holding four police officers hostage.
“[W]e offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of the police officers who were killed or injured during – I think the incident took place Sunday in Yerevan’s Erebuni district. We obviously condemn strongly the use of violence to effect political change in Armenia or anywhere. We encourage Armenian authorities to handle the situation with appropriate restraint, but again, our condolences go out to those police officers who lost their lives in the attack,” said department spokesperson Mark Toner.
Armenian authorities said on July 20 that they do not plan to storm the Yerevan police station that has been seized in an ongoing hostage situation since July 17. Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) said that they are still in negotiations with the armed opposition group calling themselves Sasna Dzrer, reported Azatutyun.am.
Source: Armenian Weekly Mid-West
