Armenia's Police make explanatory statement after violent dispersal of demonstration against rising power rate

 Armenia's Police have come out with a statement to explain the violent dispersal of the sit-down strike against the rising power rate from the Baghramyan Ave earlier this morning. 

"The Police tried to secure public order on the Baghramyan Ave using explanatory methods and persuading the protesters to stop the picket. In addition, the Police informed the demonstrators that President Serzh Sargsyan is ready to listen to them. However, they ignored the Police calls," the Police say in the statement.

Further in the statement, the Police try to explain their violent actions against the protesters with the Law on the Freedom of Assemblies stipulating that an assembly shattering the calm of the citizens must be stopped.  "The Police warned the protesters against special measures to restore the public order unless they leave the area. Further, the Police suggested the protesters to continue their rally in the Liberty Square or elsewhere, but not on the Baghramyan Ave  (where the president's residence is located).  The Police took every measure to avoid violence. Since, those measures proved inefficient, the Police had to use force in line with the Law on the Freedom of Assemblies," the Police say in the statement.  

The Police report detention of dozens of citizens for "violation of the legal order."  The Police try to explain the violence against journalists and their detention: "Journalists ignored the Police order not to come too close to the area of the protests.  The journalists on the spot inherently participated in the action.  Meantime, journalists must have with them adequate documents and do not obstruct the Police from doing their job. We have repeatedly warned the journalists that everyone is equal before the law irrespective of their profession. Since the journalists ignored the Police demands, we used the same methods against them," the Police statement says.

At 5:30am today, the Police dispersed the sit-down protest in front of the president's residence using special means, mainly water canons. 

Around 500 people ran towards the adjacent the Liberty Square and found themselves between the Police on the one side and the water canons on the other side. The Police detained many of the protesters using force. 

Among the detainees are journalists. The equipment of many media sources was damaged.  The detained journalists contacted their news offices from the police stations complaining of violent treatment.  Among them there are even injured who have been hospitalized. By different data, 120 people were detained. Part of them was set free later. 

The protests ran high in the country after the energy costs were increased by 7 drams. The people demand the authorities to revoke the decision to raise the power rate and revise the existing rate.