Reporters Without Borders: We are shocked by the extent of violence the police used against journalists (video)
Voice of America has interviewed Johann Bihr, head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk for Reporters Without Borders, who says they were shocked by the extent of violence the police used against journalists during the events of June 23. “It was decided to destroy any evidence on the crackdown on Bagramyan Avenue. This was an attack on freedom of information,” he said. Earlier, Bihr condemned the police violence against journalists and said the policemen who attacked the journalists must be brought to justice. The actions of the police must not be unpunished or else their violent behavior will recur and could become the norm. Some 5,000 people went to Baghramyan Avenue Monday night in an attempt to organize a sit-in in front of the Presidential Palace, but after being stopped on the way by heavy police cordons the protesters decided to hold their action on the street. The protest was triggered by the PSRC decision to raise electricity tariffs in Armenia by 7 drams (about 1.5 cents) from August 1. Earlier this month, the state regulator partially granted the request by the Russian-owned Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) that had asked the tariffs to be raised by 17 drams (over 40 percent). The standoff between protesters and police went on for at least nine hours on Baghramyan Avenue before the police decided to 'clear' the street section from the demonstrators with the use of water cannons and special means. Within about 10 minutes the square was cleared and demonstrators were pushed to the area near the Opera House. Many were reportedly taken to police stations. About two dozen people, including police workers, were reportedly injured in the clampdown.
