Epress.am News from Armenia
Today, unlike last week, protestors outside the Armenian government building every Thursday were permitted to approach the building. Last week, police had blocked off the area around the building, while protestors stood near the foundations in Republic Square, at least a kilometer or two away from their usual spot. Later, the demonstrators moved to the central police division where fellow activist Lala Aslikyan was being held.
Chief of Armenia’s Police Patrol Service Valeriy Osipyan on Oct. 27 told the Epress.am reporter on the scene that police will not allow “the disruption of the normal course of the (weekly) government meetings and the movement of ordinary citizens.” Asked from who police received such a directive, Osipyan said, “The police don’t need a directive.”
Asked this week why the change the tactics, Osipyan refused to comment, advising reporters to contact the police press service.