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<\/a><\/p>\nPolice intervened at the demonstration today outside the Chinese Embassy in Armenia in defense of world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei, said demonstrator Lala Aslikyan, speaking to Epress.am.<\/p>\n
Recall, Weiwei was detained by Chinese authorities on Apr. 3 and is being charged for “economic crimes.” A number of international agencies insist that his persecution is political and emblematic of China\u2019s widening crackdown on dissent.<\/p>\n
According to Aslikyan, at the end of their demonstration, embassy employees approached them and asked for their first and last names.<\/p>\n
“Employees approached us and asked who we’re doing the demonstration for, that they don’t recognize that man [Ai Weiwei] and other such things. Then about 15 officers approached the embassy and told us to stop the protest. Immediately after the police arrived, a person who was most likely Chinese came out of the embassy [building], spoke with the police supervisor, began to shout in Russian “take them from here” and began to push us, ripping the A4-sized poster we’d prepared. And the police were saying go, what do you want, today is our day, at least congratulate us,” she said. Note, Police Day in Armenia is marked every year on Apr. 15.<\/p>\n