SIS official: “Demonstrators were not killed by police officers”
The Special Investigative Service (SIS) has interrogated 200 people in connection with the 2008 post-election unrest following Serzh Sargsyan's instructions to review the probe into the March 2008 events, head of the SIS group investigating the unrest told reporters on Wednesday.
"After the President's speech, the SIS made a statement, asking all people who have information about the clashes in Yerevan either to turn to them or contact them on the phone. Currently, we are questioning the policemen who were deployed in downtown Yerevan during the clashes," said Vahagn Harutyunyan.
The SIS official said they urge all Armenians who witnessed the March 1-2, 2008 events to provide relevant information to investigators, especially details about the crimes committed that day, namely information about the circumstances of ten people's deaths, acquisition and application of illegal weapons, etc.
According to Harutyunyan, 1772 cartridge cases were found at the scene of clashes between riot police and demonstrators which were sent to examination. The preliminary investigation revealed that the cases did not belong to firearms used by law enforcement officials, which means that 343 out of the 1772 cases were not fired by policemen. The investigation also revealed that illegal arms were used during the clashes.
The SIS is taking measures to disclose the users of illegal weapons.
In the end, Harutyunyan said that the ten victims had not been killed from the bullets of police officers.
