Environmentalists spend night without tent
Environmentalists and civic activists protesting the construction of kiosks at Yerevan's Mashtots Park have divided into three groups.
"Different groups have formed at the park. One day they will come to the park to find 150 brigades ready to dismount the kiosks and police officers running around them," activist Eghia Nersisyan told A1+.
Environmental and civic activists, who resumed their non-stop sit-in on March 31, have already spent the second night at the park, with police officers guarding them all they long.
"The police did not allow us to put up a tent at the park even after the visit of the Ombudsman," said activist Gor Hakobyan.
"We spent the night in sleeping bags despite the cold," added Arthur Safaryan.
The Ombudsman urged the police officers to substantiate their decision, but his inquiry was left unanswered.
"The negotiations between the Ombudsman and Robert Melkonyan [Deputy Police Chief of Yerevan City] were fruitless. Melkonyan made an arbitrary decision, without any legal justification and no one could oppose him," the environmentalists said labeling the police actions as a rough violation of human rights.
"If necessary, we shall stay here for three years," added Arthur Safaryan.
Earlier, the environmentalists had said that they were waiting for a suitable moment to dismantle the rows of kiosks.
