Police only serve the interests of the authorities: human rights activist (video)
In support of Jirayr Sefilyan protest action today kicked off with the warning of the police ‘action is unlawful’. Deputy Chief of Yerevan Police Valeri Osipyan announced, “You must have informed so that we could come and ensure the public order.” Nevertheless, the police allowed the participants of the march to move to Baghramyan 26, clearly demanding to take the route set by the police. Members of “New Armenia” movement always encounter this behavior of the police. Gagik Yeghiazaryan opposes, “The number of march participants is less than 100, so there is no need to inform and, in fact, it isn’t illegal.” The activist didn’t satisfy the demand of the police on New Year’s Eve, when the law enforcement officers demanded not to install a Christmas tree at Liberty Square. At that time the police officers showed rude attitude, which, according to Gagik Yeghiazaryan, had its reasons. “First, absence of media outlets, second, the people, who where under the influence of cold or holidays and were very passive, and the police officers weren’t afraid of public outburst.” Vardges Gaspari, who has been known for his civil activity for about 10 years, often revolts against the demands of the police. The methods of the force structure for putting pressure on the citizens, he says, are mastering year by year. “We, so to say, have entered from Stalin era to Brezhnev era and there is no need any more to break someone’s head, simply they threaten the way that the people already know that they shouldn’t cross the line,” says Mr Gaspari. Human rights activist Zhanna Aleksanyan hasn’t recorded any progress in the behavior of the police during the rallies. Very often police officers outnumber the civilians. During the actions there are also police officers, who follow the events in civilian clothes. “I call them gangs, who act against the people. First the police officer should protect the interest of citizens, and not to act as a crypto gang and attack,” says the human rights activist. The employees of the police aren’t punished for their violence, says the human rights activist. In case of the structure, which always serves the interests of the authorities, there can be no other option. “The police have proved that they serve only the interests of the authorities. We have already been convinced of it, seeing how they oppress those small rallies, marches, use violence especially against ‘New Armenia’, to mention the recent case- hitting a woman in the head,” notes Zhanna Aleksanyan. So that the right to freedom of assemblies is maintained in Armenia, the human rights activist says, only one factor is needed- the police should act only within the frames of the law.
