Greater desire to stroll
The Armenian National Congress weighs the events that took place on Northern Avenue in the past two days as the administration's decision to start its candidate's election campaign a month early.
On April 7, the line of police officers attacked citizens taking a "political" stroll on Northern Avenue when they let balloons with the slogan "Free and Independent Armenia" fly in the air.
On April 8, the line of police officers closed down Northern Avenue from both sides.
"They weren't satisfied with that and fulfilled the command to try to disperse the citizens. As a precautionary measure, they arrested ten activists, including coordinator of the Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan," as stated in the ANC statement.
But all this led to the protests demonstrated on the streets of Tumanyan, Teryan and Sayat-Nova screaming the slogans of the movement. Passer-bys and drivers joined with great enthusiasm. When it already became clear that the "plan" had failed, the Kentron police division released the detainees after keeping them for nearly two hours and asked their forgiveness for the misunderstanding.
"This was yet another failed attempt to put an end to the daily "political" strolls on Northern Avenue. These attempts are made especially when the administration fears something. After each failed attempt, people have a greater desire to come out for a stroll in the evening. The Armenian National Congress advises the authorities to come to grips with the reality that has been facing them for more than a year and calls on the police to not fulfill the commands that infringe upon human rights," as stated in the ANC statement.
