Epress.am News from Armenia
Around 9 AM Monday morning Armenian Police began dismantling the barricades on Baghramyan Avenue that demonstrators have built using nearby garbage cans. An investigator who had arrived at the site accompanied by Deputy Yerevan Police Chief Valery Osipyan said in an interview with journalists that a criminal case has been launched pursuant to Article 184 of the RA Criminal Code (Infliction of damage to property by deception or abuse of confidence).
“[RA Investigative Committee’s] investigative department of Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts has initiated criminal proceedings. The investigator has decided to forfeit the garbage cans presently located on Baghramyan Avenue, owned by “Sanitek” company. I would advise our fellow citizens not to interfere with the investigative actions,” the investigator said.
In response, people started chanting “Shame! Shame!” and climbed on the garbage cans, trying to prevent their seizure. Protesters demanded that police present official documents regarding the complaint and the initiated criminal case.
As of 10:30 AM, protesters have surrounded that barricades, waiting for an answer from the police.
Note, thousands of protesters against the rise in electricity prices spent the night on Baghramyan Avenue, despite continuous threats from Armenian police to forcibly disperse the demonstration after 11 PM on June 28. Law enforcement officers, however, did not take any action against the demonstrators during the night; they occasionally called for the people to maintain public order.
Around 6:15 AM on Sunday Deputy Yerevan Police Chief Valery Osipyan walked through the ranks of the protesters; he later said in an interview with journalists that the protesters had violated the rules of coexistence during the night. They, Osipyan claimed, had used alcohol, particularly beer. Responding to the official's words, one of the demonstrators said: “Thank you, Mr. Osipyan. We all had a good night.”