What happened in Alaverdi community seizure of power - Arman Tatoyan 

ArmInfo. What happened in the Alaverdi community is a seizure of power through the illegal usurpation of a representative body directly elected by citizens, the council of elders and the position of head of the community, Armenia's former human rights defender and head of the Tatoyan Foundation, Arman Tatoyan, wrote on his Facebook account. 

"This was an obvious encroachment on the political rights of people  who formed power in their community, as well as on local  self-government. It is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic  of Armenia as the most important basis of democracy and is an  integral part of the constitutional system.

This attack on the constitutional order and fundamental rights of  citizens occurred with the direct intervention and under the  leadership of the central political authority governing Armenia," the  human rights activist noted.

He noted that from the beginning to the end of the process of  illegally removing the mayor of Alaverdi, in the building of a public  house, a member of the ruling faction of the National Assembly  participated in the work of the Council of Elders, including at the  location of the session and voting (in violation of the provisions of  the law), allowing actions not arising from his powers.

"With his criminal behavior, he openly showed that he is a  representative of the central government and enjoys the protection of  the police.

A deputy from the ruling faction of the National Assembly constantly  demonstrated his superiority (in fact, apparently) in relation to the  head of the Alaverdi community, members of the council and the  public, with a contemptuous attitude, regularly using offensive  words, expressions that offend human dignity, including curses.

In addition, this behavior of a deputy from the ruling faction of the  National Assembly is confirmed by open disrespect for the citizens  who gathered in front of the community mayor's office after the  meeting, as well as an open demonstration of warm personal relations  with the police and members of the Council of Elders from the "GD".  Moreover, he was present both before the meeting and during the  entire meeting and voting, which violated the requirement of secrecy  of voting.

"It is extremely condemnable that the police were brought to the  community building against those citizens who formed the authorities  in Alaverdi by direct vote and gathered in front of the community  building, exercising their constitutional rights," Tatoyan noted.

He also pointed out that it was clear that the police were acting at  the "invitation" of the central political authority. For example,  they were intolerant and rude towards members of the Council of  Elders who were not in political power.

"Even after the end of the meeting, the police were so busy "taking  care" of the members of the Council who were part of the political  power that they even interfered with the professional work of  journalists, not allowing them to "bother" the members of the Council  and the deputy with questions.

The current head of the community, as well as members of the Council,  have the right to participate in the meeting convened on the issue of  no confidence in the head of the community and to chair the meeting.   These are political rights guaranteed by law, which the police have  no right to restrict, especially when done on the orders of political  authorities.

All this is evidence of a violation of the autonomy of local  self-government by the central political authorities, as well as the  establishment of complete control over this system," Tatoyan wrote.

On December 5, an extraordinary meeting of the City Council of Elders  was convened, which was attended by 14 of the 27 council members, of  which 13 were members of the ruling "GD" faction, and one was Simon,  who left the ranks of the "Country for Life" faction and became  "independent." Zakharov.

Members of the Council voted unanimously and expressed a vote of no  confidence in Arkady Tamazyan, a member of the "Country for Life"  faction, after which David Gumayan was elected mayor. This decision  of the Council of Elders caused discontent among city residents, who  began to gather in front of the city administration building,  organizing a protest, not allowing members of the faction to leave  the building.  The protesters demanded new elections. However, large  police forces were drawn to the building and did not allow citizens  and opposition members of the Council of Elders to enter the  building.