Epress.am News from Armenia
Since 9:30 am today, opposition group Armenian National Congress (HAK) youth began their protest demonstration in front of Golden Tulip Hotel Yerevan (next to Moscow Cinema). As reported earlier, the two-day EU-Armenia Civil Society Seminar on the Right to a Fair Trial and Independence of the Judiciary began today at Golden Tulip Hotel Yerevan, the aim of which is to contribute to official EU-Armenia human rights dialogue.
A few dozen or so youth holding signs were standing in front of the hotel, at Charles Aznavour Square. The signs had different inscriptions on them in English: “Europe, Don’t Support Dictators,” “Political Prisoners in Armenia is a Shame for Europe,” “Europe!!! You Let This Regime Keep 12 Hostages,” and “Europe, Tell the Truth About Armenia.”
There are more than a couple dozen police officers also in the area, who have cordoned off the area with yellow tape and put up barriers, asking protestors to stand behind them. HAK foreign relations spokesperson Vladimir Karapetyan, also participating in the demonstration, while speaking to officers, refused to follow their orders, calling it “unlawful.”
After waiting for about 10 minutes, police attacked activists and began to confiscate and destroy their signs. The youth lay down on the ground, while officers, pushing and pulling, detained four youth — Sargis Gevorgyan, Areg Gevorgyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan and Sargis Khachatryan — by forcing them into police vehicles and driving away from the scene.
As told to Epress.am by Sargis Gevorgyan’s sister, journalist Ani Gevorgyan, her brother has already called her from the police station and told her that the detained youth are being assaulted by the police.
At this time, the other youth are continuing their protest in front of the Golden Tulip.