Armenia’s state human rights ombudsman, Armen Harutiunian, on Monday
criticized police actions during the break-up of an unsanctioned opposition
demonstration in Yerevan late last week.

Riot police used force on Friday to disperse more than 200 opposition supporters
outside a court where seven prominent opposition members stood trial on
controversial coup charges. The crowd tried to march to the Office of the
Prosecutor-General in protest against what they see as a politically motivated
case.

The opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) condemned the police actions as illegal and complained to Harutiunian, presenting him with video of the clashes.

Harutiunian told RFE/RL that he has studied the footage and believes the police
committed “violations” of the law. He said he will write to the chief of the
national police, Alik Sargsian, to demand an explanation for what he considers
the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters.

Two journalists working for an opposition newspaper were injured during the
incident. One of them, photographer Gagik Shamshian, required treatment in
hospital afterward. Shamshian said fell over and hit his head against an iron
pole as the police pushed back the crowd. “I thank God for not getting a serious
injury,” he said.

Shamshian, who has been repeatedly manhandled by the police in the past, was summoned the police department of Yerevan’s southern Shengavit district on Monday to give a written account of the incident.