Epress.am News from Armenia
The Ombudsman's Office expressed its concern over the events that took place yesterday on Martiros Saryan St. in central Yerevan.
"The police maintaining public order does not mean beating citizens, and being guided by their own emotions in carrying out official duties indicates poor professionalism. Consequently, we expect appropriate action against all the police officers who applied disproportionate force on rally participants.
"At the same time, some of the rally participants also displayed unacceptable behavior. In a number of videos disseminated in the media it shows how some of them were rudely insulting or pushing police officers. The realization of human rights does not imply arbitrariness, unlawful behavior, and a disrespectful attitude toward law enforcement officials.
"The Human Rights Defender [Karen Andreasyan] will give a complete assessment of what happened after receiving, according to the law, the necessary official explanations from the police," reads the statement [AM] published on the Ombudsman's official website.
Recall, during a peaceful demonstration against the planned electricity price hike police used unnecessary force against activists, 27 of whom were detained. As told to journalists by the activists themselves, police also resorted to violence while taking them to the station, particularly in the police vehicle. Police officer Vardan Gevorgyan hit journalist Ani Gevorgyan (no relation) in the face.