Parliamentary commission presents its report
The National Assembly's Ad-Hoc Commission for the March 1-2, 2008, today presented the final part of its report on last year's post-election clashes in downtown Yerevan.
Commission Chairman Samvel Nikoyan criticized the activity of the Armenian police, National Security, Prosecutor's Office and Special Investigation Service.
"The police acted spontaneously and disorderly," announced Samvel Nikoyan and added that water carriers poured water on buildings and windows.
"Policemen were so afraid and hopeless that they fainted," noted Mr. Nikoyan.
The commission chair couldn't understand the role of masked people.
"Only policemen have a right to speak to demonstrators and pose them their demands. Who are the masked people?" asked Mr. Nikloyan.
At the same time, he noted that the demonstrators needn't have carried flammable liquids and metal poles.
Samvel Nikloyan hurried to blame Levon Ter-Petrosian as well. "Levon Ter-Petrosian was to come and avert the grave aftermaths of clashes even without guarantees. Or he could do it through the All-Armenian Catholicos."
The commission chair felt pity that they can’t name those guilty in March 1 deaths and blamed the police and the Special Investigation Service in this connection. at the same time, Mr. NIkoyan emphasized that the commission did not get any backing or information from public and opposition.
He said additional investigation is needed to find the one guilty of the deaths.
The commission hasn't identified the demonstrator shooting police officer Tigran Abgarian. Nor has it detected demonstrators throwing stones at policemen.
With regard to the list of wanteds Samvel Nikoyan said, "The Special Investigation Service cannot find them or doesn't want to. But the fact is that they are still in search."
Nikoyan ended his speech with a few proposals. In particular, he highlighted improvement of the country's social state, combat against corruption and protection of freedom of speech.
"In 1988 Garbachov tried to solve our national problems by filling the markets with sausages. Everyone knows that March 1 wasn't resulted by social problems," observed Heritage faction MP Armen Martirosian.
