THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF POLICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
Due to the necessity to restore the violated public order, Police entered into lengthy negotiations with the organizers of the unlawful procession along Baghramyan avenue, suggesting that they should vacate the assembly venue.
Meanwhile, police made several announcements over the loudspeaker informing the assembly participants about the Armenian President’s readiness to listen to their demands.
The appeals, requests and addresses made by police officers were neglected by the assembly organizers.
In accord with article 29 of the Republic of Armenia law “On the Freedom of assemblies”, assemblies, conducted in areas adjacent to residential and other buildings between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. shall not be accompanied with noise or light signals not to disturb the rest of people.
According to the 1st part of article 33 of the above-mentioned law, the Police may terminate an assembly if there is no other possibility of preventing disproportionate restrictions of the constitutional rights of other persons or of the public interest.
Being guided by these legal provisions, Police addressed demand to the assembly leaders to terminate the assembly. This demand was rejected by the assembly leaders. Police kept on demanding from the assembly participants to immediately terminate the assembly and a reasonable time period was set for them to meet that demand.
Police warned the assembly participants about the legal power of the Police to disperse the assembly in case of assembly participants’ failure to terminate the assembly voluntarily during the set time period.
Moreover the assembly participants were suggested that they should continue the assembly on the Freedom Square or in a less lively part of the city. Police carried out the above-mentioned preventive measures abstaining from using force against the assembly participants as far as possible.
However, the negotiations and attempts to convince the assembly participants proved unsuccessful because of the resistance offered by the assembly organizers.
In this situation Police resorted to the use or force in compliance with the above-mentioned article of the Republic of Armenia law «On the freedom of Assemblies», namely Police shall disperse the assembly in case of assembly participants’ failure to terminate the assembly voluntarily.
As a result, dozens of active law-breakers were detained, among them were journalists who had kept on neglecting police officers’ appeal and demand to keep reasonable distance from the assembly venue and not to hinder police officers in the lawful performance of their duty, thus becoming an assembly participants in fact.
When covering demonstrations or public events, journalists must wear distinguishing signs and produce proper documents, as well as abstain from hindering police officers in performing of their professional duties.
Police repeatedly warned the journalists that legitimate requirements of a police officer are mandatory for all citizens.
Article 182 of the Republic of Armenia Code «On administrative offences» envisages liability for failure to meet legitimate demands of police officers performing their duty of maintaining public order and ensuring public safety.
Besides, according to article 261 of the mentioned Code, an "administrative arrest” shall be used as a coercive measure in case of law-breaker's failure to fulfil police officers' legitimate requirements.
Some journalists neglected police officers’ legitimate requirements in this case, and this has led to undesirable consequences.
Police of the Republic of Armenia
