Tank-Man case: National Security Service has no claim on civil activist
Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) has no claim on Artak Gevorgyan, a local activist who drove a cardboard tank through Yerevan streets in an unusual ‘street art protest’ and hit the metal gates of the NSS building. The NSS has sent a letter to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts, which is studying the incident that occurred last summer, saying while they do not approve of such behaviour of citizens, they have no claims on the civil activist. The Court today heard Arman Gharibyan, a witness in the case. The latter said that on that particular day they were driving in Yerevan streets in the cardboard tank but they did not frighten any citizen. Many even expressed their desire to photograph with the cardboard tank. The young men were approached by representatives of the Traffic Police who said they need to place a reflector. The court has retired to watch the video showing Artak Gevorgyan hitting his green the cardboard tank against the metal gates of the NSS building. Civil activist Artak Gevorgyan is facing up to two years in prison for staging 'street art' protest. He is accused of grossly violating public order by way of disrupting the normal activities of security personnel at the NSS building, causing fears over property protection.
