Incident Between HAK Activists and Police was Planned in Advance, Says Police Chief

RA Police Chief Alik Sargsyan (pictured) believes that the Aug. 9 incident between Armenian National Congress (HAK) activists and police officers was planned in advance.

 

“I am afraid of no one, and I declare that yes, there were 30–40 people there; a few [of the activists] approached and provoked [the officers]; the rest were gathered in one place and [then] approached,” said the police chief.

 

In his opinion, suspending talks between the opposition alliance and governing authorities because of Tigran Araqelyan being the sole activist (from that incident) still in detention is “the usual political speculations.”

 

“I’m already tired of speaking about this: I am not the one to change Araqelyan’s precautionary measure; and those before him, whose [precautionary measures] were changed [i.e. Araqelyan’s fellow activists who were released], they didn’t particularly ask me. A new wave of the usual political speculations has begun — connected with Tigran Araqelyan. He committed an ordinary crime; he has to give a response for [this] ordinary crime, which bears no political motive whatsoever,” he said.

 

Commenting on speculations, Sargsyan said the youth were not subject to any violence while in police custody. “They freely worked and created in the division — there are photos online, go and see. Not a single finger was laid on them.”

 

No one can attack police officers, the police chief added. “No one has the right to assault an officer in this country” — whoever tries to, I’ll damn them, he said.

 

Recall, 4 of the 7 young opposition Armenian National Congress activists detained on Aug. 9 and arrested on Aug. 10 — Areg and Vahagn Gevorgyan, David Kiramijyan and Sahak Muradyan — were released on Aug. 12, while the court ruled on a two-month pre-trial detention for fellow activists Tigran Araqelyan, Artak Karapetyan and Sargis Gevorgyan. Karapetyan and Gevorgyan were later released, while Araqelyan is still in detention.

 

Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, David Kiramijyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and Vahagn Gevorgyan were all charged with hooliganism (RA Criminal Code Artice 258), while Tigran Araqelyan and Artak Karapetyan were charged with violence against a representative of the authorities (RA Criminal Code Article 316).