POLICE CLAIM TRANSIT PROTESTS ARE NOT “SPONTANEOUS” AND THUS ILLEGAL
10:07, July 24, 2013
The Armenian Police have issued a statement that the recent protests
in Yerevan demanding that transit fare hikes be rescinded cannot be
considered “spontaneous” in nature and that the organizers must apply
for demonstration permits in advance of any action.
It would appear that the police are trying to curb the rights of
citizens in terms of freedom of expression and assembly by painting
the protests in such a light that will allow the police to arrest
and detain protestors “according to the law”.
As it now stands, the law allows for protests up to a maximum of 100
people, but only if they are “spontaneous” in nature and do not last
for more than six hours.
The police statement claims that the protests, now into their fifth
day, are neither.
The statement ends with a call to the protestors not to hinder police
actions designed to maintain “public order” and the “constitutional
rights” of others.