Police officers tried to intimidate residents of Aparan
Today before Raffi Hovhannisyan met with residents of Aparan, a police car had wandered the streets and warned that this rally was illegal and people should disperse. This made Raffi Hovhannisyan very angry, he called after the police car, waved at it to come back and introduce itself, but the latter drove away. Later on, the police car came back, probably called by its colleagues, and Colonel Grigoryan talked with Mr. Hovhannisyan and in response to a question what they were announcing there, he said: “We are informing the citizens that the rally is illegal.” Raffi Hovhannisyan argued: “This is my town, my country, and we have a right to freely move. Both you and I have a right to talk with our compatriots, debate, listen to their opinions. And no one has the right to intimidate our people.” “This is a town of all of us, Mr. Hovhannisyan. There is no intimidation,” the police officer explained. Raffi Hovhannisyan coerced and demanded that the police officer read the text in his hand, which he had announced shortly before through the megaphone, again. According to the text, “The Police of the Republic of Armenia inform that the town hall of Aparan hasn’t been informed about the rally you are holding in accordance with the prescribed procedure. Taking into account the fact that the rally is being held in breach of the procedure of holding rallies, the police warn.” Raffi Hovhannisyan asked: “Who gave you that order, someone from Yerevan? Tell me who it is. Have you typed this text?” According to the police officer, it was a requirement of the law. “You state in your speeches every day that you comply with the requirements of the law, don’t you? And we are enforcing the law. We are not carrying out an order.” Raffi Hovhannisyan apologized to them for his loud tone, but regardless of who typed that order, a police officer is not a judge and has to ensure the freedom of movement and the freedom of speech of the citizen of the Republic of Armenia. “I haven’t announced a rally. There is no rally here. If you attribute to me a rally, please, show me where I announced that rally would take place, based on which you wander the streets and state that it is illegal.” Armen Martirosyan interfered in the debate and assured that that statement of police officers was illegal, and there were no more than 100 people gathered there. At the end of the conversation, everybody chanted: “Fearless Armenia,” and police officers got into their car and left. In Raffi Hovhannisyan’s words, Aparan should be rescued from that atmosphere of fear. “Our republic with get over this fear. Next time, no police officer will threaten a frightened citizen from his car and run away from me, neither will he salute. I don’t need any salutation. I need the good service of these soldiers, police officers. Everyone should do his job and mind his family. No one should threaten the citizen, regardless of whether he is a governor, a mayor, or the president. Aparan rescued Armenia, and now Aparan will rescue Armenia again.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
