Basic instinct

In Yerevan, late on Friday, the police dispersed the protest of the security of the security forces on the Khorenatsi Street, which is held by Sasna Tsrer activists for more than a week, Radio Azatutyun reports . 60 people were hospitalized, 165 demonstrators were driven.

The police claim that a group of people separated from the demonstrators and tried to break through the cordon to get to the captured building. Eyewitnesses of events refute this version. The police used special equipment - smoke bombs and noise grenades. In response, the demonstrators threw it at police stones.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia initiated a case of riots. 23 people were detained on it, including the vice-chairman of the Opposition Party "Heritage" Armen Martirosyan and the head of the opposition initiative "Get up, Armenia Andrias Gukasyan. The lawyer of Martirosyan Givi Ovannisyan said that his client does not recognize the charge against him. "Martirosyan not only did not organize mass riots, but, on the contrary, there are videos that show how he tried to calm the situation," the lawyer said.

During the dispersal of the action, people in civilian clothes specially attacked journalists, breaking equipment. Journalists A1+, Armenia, Radio Azatutyun, Lragir.Am, the first information, Sivivnet, the Russian channel Life were injured. “These people, who were probably police officers, clearly realized that they were attacking journalists,” said Ovannes Movsisyan, a victim of Radio Azatutyun.

"We expect that the Armenia authorities will be in justice of the attackers and protect journalists who carry out their legal activities," said Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Freedom Thomas Kent.

The official representative of the police Ashot Agaronyan assured that all incidents related to media representatives will be "immediately investigated."

Among the injured five police officers. One of them was hospitalized with a gunshot wound in the abdomen received during shooting from the captured base.

The Secretary of General of the Council of Europe Turbiern Jagland expressed concern in connection with the situation in Armenia. He stated that the conflict should be resolved with the help of political dialogue and with respect for democratic norms and standards. "I urge everyone to related to this dangerous situation, immediately put an end to her and return to democratic methods," the Jagund statement said.

One of the activists who seized the base of activists, Varuzhan Avetisyan, said that all processes in Yerevan are controlled from the outside. "I am talking about Russia. The process of suppressing the struggle of the Armenian people and our liquidation is not controlled by Armenia. It is under the control of Russia. It is obvious that the current authorities of Armenia are only the Russian administration, silent and obedient," he said. "It is time, to finally understand that this is a national liberation struggle against colonialism."

Acceleration of protest in Yerevan. Video report "Radio Azatutyun"

On Friday, police snipers fired at the captured base for 10 minutes. Three activists of the "Sasna Tsrer" were injured in their feet. Two were sent to the hospital. Araik Handoyan (lone wolf) refused hospitalization. Thus, now there are 22 oppositionists from 31 participating in the capture on the basis.

The surrenders Gagik Egiazaryan and Aram Akopyan were arrested . He was charged under paragraph 1 of part 3 of Article 219 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (the capture of buildings, buildings, vehicles, messages or communications committed by an organized group) and part 3 of Article 235 (illegal acquisition, sale, storage, transportation or weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosives made by an organized group).

Akhanonyan said that snipers opened shooting in response to shots that sounded at the base. However, Avetisyan assured that activists did not shoot the security forces. “We shoot in our territory to ensure our safety,” he explained. “For example, we shoot at the device so that there is no bomb so that it does not explode and does not harm us.”