Seven people were arrested in Liberty Square in Yerevan yesterday morning. The police dismantled a small tent camp that had been planted by an alliance of the radical opposition that seeks to overthrow the government of Armenia.
All these individuals were released a few hours later.
Small groups of members and sympathizers New Armenia remained in the square around the clock since the group began a campaign of anti-government protests in early December. The sit-in not sanctioned by city authorities continued even after the campaign fizzled due to the low participation in the protests.
In a statement, the Armenian police said the police confiscated one tent, table, heaters and other objects in Liberty Square protesters because drinking alcohol and thus disrupted the public order. The statement said one of those detained was searched by law enforcement authorities for theft while another, a minor wife, was questioned by police officers Tuesday on suspicion of theft.
“It was clear that the site around the clock has been turned into an area that has attracted individuals with anti-social inclinations”, the statement added.
New Armenia was quick to condemn the police action as a “provocation” of the government. One of its leaders, Andrias Ghukasian said that only three of those detained are activists of Armenia News. The other four are “provocateurs” government, which were sent to Liberty Square by police, he said.
“Their goal was to dismantle the tent and confiscate objects that have allowed citizens to continue the sit-in at night,” Ghukasian told journalists. He warned that the opposition movement will plant a new tent on the square if the police refused to return confiscated items.
Claire © armenews.com