STATE OF EMERGENCY IMPOSED IN YEREVAN
DeFacto Agency
March 3 2008
Armenia
YEREVAN, 03.03.08. DE FACTO. RA President Robert Kocharian signed a
decree on imposing state of emergency in the country.
The decision on imposing state of emergency was made after getting
the information concerning disorders in the city and injuries
received by Police officers in the course of fire opened by Levon
Ter-Petrossian’s supporters, the state’s head said in the course of
the press conference.
Robert Kocharian stated there was information concerning 8 casualties
among Police officers, including RA Police colonel and commander
of regiment. As a result of disorders serious damage was caused to
state and private property. "I signed a decree on imposing state
of emergency. And I signed the decree, when I was reported on these
eight casualties. The decree is targeted at maintaining constitutional
order in RA and, first of all, at ensuring security of our population,
our people", Robert Kocharian stated.
Armenian President appealed to RA citizens to "show restraint and
understanding to the steps the authorities have to undertake and to
treat the law with respect".
Answering a question why a curfew had not been imposed in the capital
city Robert Kocharian noted, "A curfew in a city with a million
residents can cause great inconveniences for citizens. That is why
is has been decided to restrict to the emergency rule’s provisions
fixed in the decree. We tried to cause minimum inconvenience to those
citizens, who are not connected with the organizers and executors of
the disorders".