Local Activist Demands his Constitutional Right to Freedom of Speech

An Armenian National Congress (HAK) activist who was formerly imprisoned due to what is believed to be his political activities has issued a statement concerning his interactions with police officers during his one-day sit-in at Freedom (or Liberty) Square.

The HAK activist, Vardges Gaspari, writes:

“On Saturday, Oct. 2, from 6 pm onwards, I, carrying an approx. 50×70 cm poster, began my one day sit-in at Freedom Square. Before the middle of the night, police officers — Sergeant Yeghiazaryan at 6:30 pm, [officers] Hambardzumyan and Arakelyan at 10 pm — approached me and attempted to find out details about my protest; however, they did not hinder my protest action.

“Later, at 1 am on Sunday, Oct. 3, about a dozen officers headed by Colonel R. Melkonyan woke me from my sleep. They said that my protest was illegal, since I have not received the necessary permission from city hall.”

Gaspari goes on to say that the officers removed him from Freedom Square, placed him in a police vehicle and drove him to the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex. The activist noted that prior to removing him from the square, Colonel Melkonyan asked him to leave voluntarily. However, the officer also seized and crumbled Gaspar’s poster, and, according to Gaspar, “insulted my human dignity, calling me ‘mentally ill’ and an ‘animal’.”

Gaspari, after being dropped off at the sports and concerts complex, returned to Freedom Square to continue his protest. However, this time, a group of special police (the “berets”) arrived at 4:30 am and drove him once again back to the sports and concerts complex. 

Apparently, the same incident occurred at 6 am. 

Gaspari concludes his statement by saying, “I demand my constitutional right to freedom of speech, to conducting a peaceful demonstration, [and] to issue criminal proceedings for insulting my human dignity and hold those guilty accountable.”