ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Justice Minister David Harutyunyan met with heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia.
As Armenian FM press service told ArmInfo, Nalbandian drew the attention of those present to the processes that took place after the meeting with the ambassadors the day before. The Minister of Foreign Affairs touched upon the complaints disseminated by the Ministry of Justice of Armenia and law enforcement agencies pointing to obvious violations of the RA law on freedom of assembly and demanding to stop calls and actions aimed at violating public order.
Nalbandian noted that the leadership and spiritual leaders of Armenia had repeatedly called for a dialogue. "The President of the Republic even visited the site of the rally to meet with the organizer and start a dialogue. Today, on April 22, the expectation of de-escalation from the meeting of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and Nikol Pashinyan was not justified, as Pashinyan used this chance for an ultimatum to the authorities, in fact rejecting the proposal for dialogue," Nalbandian said.
Touching upon the statement of the European Union, the minister noted that the Armenian side shares the theses expressed in it and not only fully respects the right to freedom of assembly, but also in practice ensures their proportional exercise in accordance with the legislation and international obligations of Armenia. Nalbandian stressed that the participants of the demonstration should respect the relevant Armenian legislation when exercising their rights.
David Harutyunyan presented explanations on the law on freedom of assembly and on international experience in ensuring freedom of assembly.
The Minister of Justice, referring to the detention of deputies of the National Assembly, noted that, ignoring the calls of the police, the organizers of the demonstration continued calls on proportional restriction of the constitutional rights of others and a decision was taken to end the illegal rallies. "The organizers of the demonstration Nikol Pashinyan, Ararat Mirzoyan, Sasun Mikaelyan were forcibly removed from the riot place, after which, with the purpose of preventing the crime, with a direct suspicion of deliberately organizing and holding a rally by violating the order established by law, in compliance with the second part of the article 96 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, were detained," he said.
The leaders of several diplomatic missions noted the importance of the steps taken to resolve the situation by political methods and within the framework of the law.