• On April 12 around 00:30 o’clock, when peaceful demonstrates were enjoying
  kind of unification, quite suddenly on Baghramyan Avenue the street
  illumination went down. Then the rumors spread: “They are going to press
  people with a tanks”. Leaders of opposition declared, it is methods of making
  people scare and there is no reason for panic. Suddenly water shooter cars,
  which were parked on the next side of the barbed wire started to move ahead
  opening the way for helmets. On Bagramyan Avenue street illumination was put
  on back. Good trick…army and water shoot cars had to see their enemy.
  Simultaneously to water shoot some type of unknown explosives were thrown out
  (later we clarified they were splinters!).It was so unexpectedly, people got
  in a flap, but kept their positions. On the same moment, some fellows in
  civilian clothes, which were grouped around Chekhov school and US Embassy
  (first they were among demonstrates) took off their clubs and started to beat
  people violently.
  
  At the same time, from the Parliament of Republic of Armenia central gate
  red-berets went out, which joined the massacre from the other side. When
  number of injured people became critical, not protected demonstrates started
  to move back. Crossroad of Baghrayan Avenue and Moskovyan street was already
  blocked. Another fully equipped army of helmets was waiting there for already
  shocked citizens.
  
  By now, number of demonstrates are taken to the hospital hardly injured.
  Obviously lots of them did not apply, being frustrated. Unfortunately none of
  Armenian TV channels were there at the moment, the only brave cameramen was
  from Russian ORT…he was beaten and camera broken. In an hour, when some of MPs
  from opposition were arrested and demonstrates finally repressed satisfied
  order implementers were proud to report their chiefs about settled “rule and
  order in the country”.
  
  /A1plus/
  
   
• Journalists became victims of brutality as well.
  
  Aykakan Zhamanak newspaper reporter Hayk Gevorgyan was badly beaten and his
  camera broken. Another correspondent of the same newspaper was rushed in
  hospital with major injuries.
  
  Policemen dressed as civilians severely beat Russian ORT TV channel’s
  cameraman Levon Grigoryan on the scene and broke his BETACAM camera.
  
  /A1plus/
  
   

PROMPT RESPONSE GROUP ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION responding to the mass
violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms these days’ in RA, is
organizing round table, dedicated to issues concerning the situation in Armenia.




The round table will be held on April 14, 12.00 in a big hall of American
University of Armenia, Alek Manukyan 9.



For participation in round table are invited

Mayor of Yerevan E. Zakharyan, Minister of Justice of RA D. Harutunyan, Head of
a Police of RA H. Harutunyan, General Prosecutor of RA A. Hovsepyan, Ombudsman
of RA L. Alaverdyan, Heads of parliament fractions of RA, Judges of
Constitutional Court of RA, Nongovernmental Human Rights organizations
representatives, International organizations representatives, Media
representatives

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROMPT RESPONSE GROUP ON HUMAN RIGHTS
PROTECTION

Recent events in Armenia shape into dangerous trends. Citizens’ basic rights are
violated: roads to Yerevan from other regions of Armenia are closed; throughout
the Republic mass arrests accompanied by illegal search of homes, and summoning
to police stations occur; administrative punishment, decided behind the closed
doors, is applied. Firstly, Souren Sourenyants, and later Artak Gabrielyan and
Aramazd Zakaryan were arrested for solely political reasons.



We consider the above mentioned facts as state terror. While condemning the
methods exploited by the government, we also call on to all forces to demand
that the government immediately stop the illegal chase of people.



Gayane Markosyan

Free Tribune for Civil Initiatives

Artak Kirakosyan

Civil Society Institute

Avetiq Ishkhanyan

Helsinki Committee of Armenia

Georgi Vanyan

Caucasus Center for Peacemaking Initiatives

Artur Sakunts

Helsinki Citizens` Assembly Vanadzor Office

Vardan Harutyunyan

Speech Freedom Support Fund

Levon Barseghyan

Journalists’ Club “Asparez”, Gyumri

APRIL 12 EVENTS

• (17.50) Rally participants moved from Freedom Square to the President’s
  House. Within about 200-300 meters from the President House barbed wire is
  stretched and forces are posted. Opposition representatives put forward the
  following demands
  
  Negotiation with Head of Police of RA
  
  Meeting with the Head of Parliament of RA
  
  Allocation of a broadcast
  
   
• (13.10) As HELSINKI CITIZENS` ASSEMBLY VANADZOR OFFICE informed, policemen
  are blocked transport moving toward Yerevan from Vanadzor bus terminal.
  
   
• On April 10 night, policemen of Malatia-Sebastia district, dressed in
  civil,  took from her home as a hostage Nune Ashughyan, under-age, 16-year old
  daughter of one of the active participant of the protest actions Gayane
  Ashughyan. They demanded Gayane Ashughyan come to police station. Nune
  Ashughyan was released late at night.  
  
  /Republic party/
  
   
•  On April 11 was detained member of political council of ’Republic’ party
  Aramazd Zaqaryan.
  
  /Republic party/
  
  Thereby, Aramazd Zagaryan along with Suren Surenyanc and Artak Gabrielyan is
  the third person, against whom was instituted a criminal case. Must be
  reminded, that Prompt response group on human rights protection in its
  statement
  consider these arrests political.
  
   
• From April 11 because of the preventive service was stopped broadcasting
  of the Kentron TV channel.  Almost a week is stopped broadcasting of the
  Russian TV channel NTV.  It is stopped the entrance from Russia of those
  Nezavisimaya gazeta release numbers, which cover issues regarding events in
  Armenia.
  
   
• On April 11 night, by the people in civilian dresses 6 persons were kept
  from the Freedom square. 

APRIL 9 EVENTS

• (22.18) Rally Participants Taken In
  Police Stations
  
  On Friday night, Republic party issued a statement saying the rally
  participants, especially those carrying banners during the rally, had been
  taken in police stations after the event.
  
  “Our efforts to obtain explanation or information produced little effect. All
  our questions to the law enforcement remained unanswered”, the statement says.
  (A1 plus)
  
  

• (16.00) According to our sources, today Natalya Janoyan was brought to the
  Prosecutor's Office of the Republic where she was questioned as a witness on
  the case against the Justice bloc. Approximately at 15.30 Ms. Janoyan
  was released.
  
  
  
• (15.00) According to "Arminfo", this morning, the traffic police on the
  Sevan-Yerevan highway blocked the entrance to Yerevan for buses and route
  taxis.
  http://new.csi.am/eng/?goto=news&id=1613
  
  
  
• (12.15) According to our sources, on 11.20, no buses are moving toward
  Yerevan from Gyumri bus terminal.
  
  
  
• (11.30) On April 8, at 20.00 Natalia Janoyan was brought to
  the Arabkir district police station for spreading leaflets about a meeting to be
  held om April 9th. She was kept in the police station till 22.30 and then released
  with order to come to the police station on April 9 at 10.00. According
  to our information, Natalia Janoyan underwent through physical violence.
  Since 10.00 she has been at the police station and there is no information from her.