Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Showdown: Police Say Mashtots Activists' Plan Illegal; Protesters Pl

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Showdown: Police Say Mashtots Activists' Plan Illegal; Protesters Pl

    SHOWDOWN: POLICE SAY MASHTOTS ACTIVISTS' PLAN ILLEGAL; PROTESTERS PLAN DISMANTLING ON SATURDAY
    By Gohar Abrahamyan

    ArmeniaNow
    30.03.12 | 15:04

    The Police of Armenia on Thursday released a statement, saying that
    if environmental activists of Mashtots Park carry out their plans to
    dismantle kiosks in the park, they will be in violation of law and
    subject to arrest.

    Protesters have been picketing the park since February in opposition
    to the installment of the small shops, saying that putting them there
    without having first held a public forum on the city's decision is
    itself illegal.

    The participants of the environmental movement (including some renowned
    scholars) sent an open letter to the Yerevan Municipality and Chief of
    Police Vladimir Gasparyan a few days ago, informing them about their
    decision to dismantle the pavilions. The names of the participants,
    the time and the tools to be used (for dismantling) are mentions in
    the statement. Besides, they called on Gasparyan to ensure public
    order, as well as the security of the people who plan to participate
    in the dismantling.

    However, the police officers have already reminded the activists
    about the illegality of their possible actions and the consequences.

    Andreas Ghukasyan, one of the activists, told ArmeniaNow that in
    spite of the police warning, the dismantlement will take place.

    "The Police's mission is not to merely maintain the law formally,
    they must ensure citizens' constitutional rights," Ghukasyan says.

    On Wednesday Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Karen
    Andreasyan released a statement expressing his readiness to collaborate
    with the activists and at the same time called on them to refuse the
    illegal actions and not to dismantle the kiosks.

Working...
X