Activists call on Police of Armenia to renounce using force at rallies

The public movement "Arise, Armenia!" has offered the police to organize an open discussion concerning means to prevent conflicts between activists and power agents. The members of the movement are counting on signing an agreement on non-use of force against demonstrators.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 17, Armenians started protest actions against the decision to raise electricity tariffs. The authorities have made advances to the protesters and promised to conduct an audit of electricity networks, before the end of which the government are to subsidize the increased electricity tariffs. The movement "Arise, Armenia!" fundamentally disagrees with the proposal.

On August 24, the board of the movement "Arise, Armenia!" made a proposal to the police to organize a "roundtable" and to discuss a number of fundamental issues in the presence of journalists.

In particular, the activists feel the need to raise the issue of civil disobedience as a political tool against the usurpation of power. The members of the movement "Arise, Armenia!" also want to discuss the means for prevention of spontaneous clashes between policemen and demonstrators during peaceful demonstrations.

Following the results of the meeting, the activists expect from the Police of Armenia to sign an agreement "renouncing the use of force."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.