Epress.am News from Armenia
At around 7 pm on Dec. 17, activists Gevorg Safaryan and Armen Mikaelyan were detained while the lights on the big Christmas tree in Yerevan's Republic Square were being lit.
During the ceremony organized by the municipality, a group of activists, chanting "Taron, it's not pretty," "Taron, plunderer," and "Shame," tried to approach Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, who had lit the Christmas tree's lights by then.
Gevorg Safaryan, speaking through a megaphone, said, "this so-called mayor is disgracing Yerevan and pulling the wool over people's eyes.
"We don't need a criminal mayor. You openly allow violations of the law, and as a result of your criminal silence, today they destroy our monuments. You know only how to speak but not to act. An oligarch forced you to be silent and get on your knees […] instead you are organizing holiday festivities with funds from the state budget."
While activists were making their statements, Taron Margaryan left the square. Police in groups followed the activists, then forcefully shoved Safaryan and Mikayelyan in a police car and drove away.
At around 10 pm, an Epress.am correspondent managed to speak with Safaryan, who said he and Mikaelyan are at the central police station. He said that police officers didn't tell them why they were being taken to the police station and during the entire time they were detained, officers were cursing and beating them.
The activists were released at 10:42 pm. The police made a report on the basis of Article 182 of the RA Code on Administrative Violations: willfully disobeying a lawful order or request of a police officer or soldier.
Photo credit: Yerevan.am