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The Armenian police count on good sense of demonstrators against the power tariff rise and speedy voluntary opening of Bagramyan Avenue in central Yerevan, Deputy Chief of Yerevan Police Valery Osipyan told reporters today.
“Bagramyan Avenue has been blocked illegally. The police will regularly take preventive measures to restore public order. The free movement of other citizens has been restricted disproportionately”, he said.

The Armenian police issued a statement yesterday, on July 1, calling on the rally organizers and participants to be reasonable, respect the Constitution and laws of Armenia, rights and legitimate interests of other people, and voluntarily open Bagramyan Avenue.

The police press service released the following statement:
“From June 19-22, 2015 the citizens protesting against the increase of the price of electricity, organized an assembly and twenty-four-hour sit-down strike on ‘Freedom Square of Yerevan city violating the procedures envisaged by the RA law on ‘Freedom of assemblies’. On June 22 the above mentioned persons carried out unlawful march towards Baghramyan Avenue completely blocking the movement of transport means and pedestrians, and at 20:00 the march was turned into termless sit-down strike at the same place.

Police of the RA regularly carried out preventive and precautionary measures in line with legislation of the RA and international standards during the whole process of the assembly and march as well as the followed 10 hours sit-down strike. And only in the morning of June 23 the Police was forced to stop the assembly after the long and useless negotiations on admonishing to continue the assembly on ‘Freedom’ Square and neglected multiple precautions on stopping the unauthorized assembly. In accordance with the line of acting relevant to such cases Police of the RA immediately conducted internal proceedings to verify the lawfulness of its employee’s actions as well.

However, on the same day in the evening the organizers and participants of the assembly again completely blocked the traffic of Baghramyan Avenue and adjacent streets through the new unlawful assembly, the followed march, sit-down strike and other illegal actions.

From the mentioned period till now Police of the RA displayed tolerance towards the long term blocking of one of Yerevan city’s main avenues, the fact of bringing such items to the place of assembly which were not meant to be used during the assembly, as well as towards the noise in the areas surrounding residential buildings during the night time disturbing the rest of the people, giving the opportunity to the participants to this assembly to express their position on the issue of public interest.
At the same time Police of the RA state that any implementation of the right on the freedom of assemblies despite its nature, the essence of the demand of the participants or their attitude towards the satisfaction of those demands should be in line with the relevant provisions of the RA Constitution, RA law on ‘Freedom of Assemblies’ and other legal acts.

In this regard the right on freedom of assemblies, first of all doesn’t and can’t contain the absolute nature and can be limited for the purpose of public order or protection of constitutional rights and freedoms of others in democratic society as well as guaranteeing the regular traffic circulation.

It comes precisely from legislative regulations that any assembly has its beginning and the end, that is to say it should be temporary. Besides this, the content of the right on the freedom of assemblies does not include the satisfaction of the demand expressed during the assembly.

At the same time Police of the RA attach importance to the fact that the organizers and the participants of the assembly have had enough time to announce their demands, as well as to present them to the society, the competent authorities and to the officials.

In this circumstances one of the main transportation channels of Yerevan city, which provides a daily movement of tens of thousands of people, including the requirement to work, leisure and other requirements, continues to remain blocked for indefinite time: Moreover, on the road section and on the sidewalks of Baghramyan avenue the objects or barriers restricting the movement of public transport and pedestrians are installed. Eventually, one of the city's constantly busy highways for a long term has been closed and is used for the leisure activities or sports and cultural events.

Based on the above mentioned facts and legal assessments given to them, Police of the Republic of Armenia announce, that the closure of Baghramyan avenue of Yerevan city and completely blocking factor by its nature and caused consequences excessively restricts the constitutional rights of other people and society interests.

Therefore, Police of the Republic of Armenia calls on the organizers of the assembly to evince chastity, respect the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia, the rights and legal interests of others and voluntarily eliminate blocking of Baghramyan avenue, which continues about 10 days.

At the same time police of the Republic of Armenia urges the organizers of the assembly and participants:
- to hold public events possible in future with the requirements of the law of the Republic of Armenia on «freedom of assembly».
- To move the assembly to another place, as a result of negotiations with Police of the Republic of Armenia.
Otherwise, Police of the Republic of Armenia will be forced in full volume exert the powers vested by legislation of the Republic of Armenia.
Police of the Republic of Armenia is full of hope that disrupted in recent days public order, activities of public organizations, as well as violated rights of persons will be possible to restore in an atmosphere of understanding and good will, without coercion or force actions.
Police of the Republic of Armenia”