Decision 2013: “Great Difference” of Police Conduct compared to 2008 rallies
14:09, March 28, 2013 | News | Electoral Rights, Freedom of Assembly and Association | Police
Despite the minor incidents that occurred during the public rallies in Yerevan and the regions held by the official runner-up in February 18 elections, oppositional candidate Raffi Hovannisian, the post-election standoff in Armenia is in most part peaceful and significantly differs from the mass demonstrations of five years ago.
“Heritage” party leader Hovannisian challenging the official election results has been meeting the residents of various Armenian regions for the past several days, as well as holding public rallies in Yerevan with participation of a great number of supporters.
Heritage member Anahit Bakhshyan told ArmeniaNow that some incidents have happened these days. She was mostly referring to the one case with her party member, activist David Sanasaryan who asked a photographer taking his photos to identify himself during the Artashat rally; in response the photographer used foul language leading to a squabble.
“Certainly, at crowded places incidents cannot be avoided, either among people or with the police, but to be fair I have to say that there is great difference between the police conduct five years ago and now,” said Bakhshyan, adding that what she cannot understand is why the National Security Service keeps pursuing Raffi Hovannisan’s “Barevolution”. On Saturday, the election challenger had a meeting with more than 2,000 people in Gyunri, Shirak region, where he had earned more votes than the sitting president in the long run.
Chairman of “Asparez” Jounalists’ Club Levon Baghdasaryan, who closely followed the entire rally, says there were no disturbances, and that although there were a great number of police officers in civilian attire in the crowd, they were quite restrained.
“The policemen in civilian attire where extracting photo cameras from their pockets, taking photos and people were waving to them well aware that they were police officers, but we noticed no rudeness,” says Baghdasaryan, adding that he hasn’t received any alerts concerning the photographs.
Meanwhile, Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor told ArmeniaNow that his office had been receiving unidentified calls from people, and told one case in particular, when a police officer’s father took part in the rally, he was called to the department and was made to sign a promise that his father would no longer go to a rally.