Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenia’s police, in a statement issued Tuesday, defended its actions in Mashtots Park, saying that they are obliged to enforce municipality decisions and that only courts can determine their legality challenged by the protesters, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reports. Recall, police have cordoned off the area around the boutiques being built in the downtown Yerevan park against which environmental activists have been protesting for the second week in a row.
The statement clarified the police presence in the park, saying officers are maintaining public order, which includes not allowing any interference in the work of contractors hired to build the retail shops. The statement also points out freedom of assembly does not permit activists to interrupt or hinder construction work that has been authorized by the municipality. The statement warned that activists defying police orders will face “administrative punishment.”
The police also offered to hold a roundtable discussion with relevant civic groups on “the legal grounds for the actions of the police” in the park. This roundtable will take place on Feb. 28 at 12 pm at the police building (130 Nalbandyan St.). Interested NGOs and civic groups must submit a request to participate in the discussion before Feb. 27.