Member of “No to plunder” initiative, Maxim Sargsyan, was in Baghramyan Avenue today. In the interview with Aravot.am, he assured that they have never abandoned Baghramyan Avenue, even on a day when they have gone down to the Freedom Square, Many of the members of “No to Plunder” initiative were in Baghramyan Avenue, simply for excused reasons they do not know them. As described by Maxim Sargsyan, the water cannon was removed from Baghramyan Avenue as they became convinced that it is a peaceful gathering. “Water cannons are used in the whole world for specific cases, when it is not possible to get closer to the people, while, in our case, the police were among the people several times.” Maxim did not rule out the possibility that the police have adopted another tactics.
We wondered if they are in Baghramyan Avenue, so why they do not take on the responsibility for coordinating the protests, Maxim Sargsyan replied, “At this moment, we do not find it appropriate, because now we want to understand to what extent the audit will help us solve this problem, as the experts have different opinions on this issue. We are dealing with these issues, of course, not forgetting about the fight in Baghramyan Avenue.” To our question of where Vaghinak Shushanyan is and why he does not come to Baghramyan Avenue, Maxim replied that he was here last night and also informed that Vaghinak has health problems. “As far as I know, he has come down with pneumonia. And not only Vaghinak, but also many members of our initiative group, including Sofia. So far, there are youth that take treatment after being injured from the water cannons. They have got fractures and muscle relaxation. We have not gone to a forensic medical examination, as we did not have a hope that anything will change, except that the process will be protracted and will reach a deadlock.”
The impressions that the movement subsides, and to our question that it might occur what Osipyan predicts saying that the movement will be dispersed by itself, Maxim replied, “If our demand is met, we will come out of Baghramyan Avenue at our own. It’s not that we are homeless and we have a problem living in Baghramyan Avenue.” Maxim also told that he was fired for being involved in civic movements. Addressing the intimidations of the police to disperse the protest and the urges to change the venue of holding the gathering, Maxim said, “This is a peaceful gathering and every citizen of Armenia has the right of it both by the Constitution and the European Convention. Let the police not try intimidating anybody. The RA citizen is exercising its rights here, whereas they want to enter the field of intimidation.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
