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“The actions of Harutyunyan and his supporters were lawful”, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, human rights activist Artur Sakunts told Aravot.am by assessing the Liberty Square clashes of yesterday between revolutionist Shant Harutyunyan, his supporters and the Police officers.

To the question whether the actions of the Police and Shant Harutyunyan’s supporters were legal, he replied, “At this point it is difficult for me to distinguish between Shant’s supporters and provokers. Obviously, there were provokers. Shant Harutyunyan’s supporters were going to Baghramyan 26, it was their target, but hardly had they begun processing, when it was stopped.”

To our next question who bore responsibility for the injured, Mr. Sakunts replied, “I am unwilling to go into details since in this case we might lose the overall image of the situation, where those actions were carried out. A desperate situation has been created in Armenia, when public institutes have stopped to impact.   Mashtots 5 incident, the events near the Municipality, the issues connected with the rise of the transportation fee, and etc. Thus, in the current situation the actions undertaken by Shant and his supporters were the last outcry and are fully in line with the current RA situation, when illegal conduct is displayed and unlawful decisions are adopted by the authorities, so people prefer rioting, as a last resort”.

We inquired from Artur Sakunts whether he saw parallels with March 1. “On March 1 people peacefully demonstrated their will and the authorities exerted violence against peaceful demonstrations and they have not been subjected to liability until present. That impunity entailed the people’s relevant actions in the face of Shant and his supporters.”

Vardan Harutyunyan does not wither see parallels between March 1 crime and Liberty Square events, “These two are not compatible. On March 1 there was no violence or call for violence by the citizens, people, the Opposition and protestants. It was an action directed against the RA citizens organized and well-planned by the authorities. I condemn finding similarities with March 1. Even Shant’s speeches of those days and yesterday are different. I think yesterday Shant and his supporters knew exactly what they were doing. Shant knew he was initiating actions, which would be counteracted. He was expecting it, it was surprise for him.”

We inquired about the legal assessment over yesterdays’ events. Mr. Harutyunyan replied, “Violence was recorded both by the Police and the protestants. We would wait until they reveal whether or not they were provokers or Shant’s supporters. Any call for violence in any case is unacceptable.”

To the question, whether the Police officers in civilian uniforms were the provokers, the ones to throw explosives and etc, Mr. Harutyunyan replied, “Taking into account the working style of our authorities during the last few years, I not only do not exclude it, but that was the first idea  that came to my mind. What actions Shant Harutyunyan was going to undertake was being planned and stated at the presence of the Police in terms of truncheons and explosives. The Police should have nipped it in the bud.  Therefore, I find the Police actions as provocations in this respect, and the Police is the first responsible for the injured”.

Mr. Harutyunyan thinks that time will reveal everything. But he does not rely on the investigation for the revelation of the facts. “Investigations in Armenia are conducted not to reveal crimes, but to confuse and lead to the deadlock”.

To our last question whether yesterday’s actions were unlawful, Mr. Harutyunyan answered, “Watching the video recording I see that both of the sides were prepared and were carrying out what had been previously planned.”

Source: http://www.aravot.am/2013/11/06/402707/