Valeri Osipyan say police are tolerant towards demonstrators
Yerevan's Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan says activists protesting steep electricity price increases are violating public order both at Liberty Square and on Baghramyan Avenue but ‘the police are tolerant towards demonstrators.’ Then he recalls an episode from yesterday’s events on Baghramyan Avenue to confirm his words. “A young lady took off my hat, and everyone was amused, but now I do not know whether to punish the girl or not.” Asked whether the police ‘will take relevant measures’ to maintain public order on the venue, given the fact that more people are participating in the protest today than in previous days, the deputy police chief said, “Let no one question the potential of our police. We can keep order [on the protest site] and we have enough police officers to disperse the demonstrators.” In reply to A1+’s question why the police used force against journalists covering yesterday’s clashes on Bagramyan Avenue and whether Mr Ospiyan had received a special order, the police official said, “If such a thing happened, we apologize to you for inconveniences.”
