“Those who teach how to behave, let them be law-abiding and then have the moral right to tell how to behave”, so responded the Chairwoman of “Against Violation” NGO Larisa Alaverdyan in response to the question of Aravot.am of whether it was a proper behavior by the police chief that yesterday, at the Russian consulate in Gyumri, Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan referring to the anger and behavior of the Gyurmi protesters pertaining to the issue of bringing Permyakov to accountability by the RA legislation, had said, “if they were infuriated, let them go to church, pray and get console.”
She added, “Gyumri people light a candle when the time comes, to express their anger they have gone to do it by other ways. Instead of sending a large number of police forces to Gyumri, the truth is that our government authorities find out and establish a commission, which is provided for by the Agreement on the military base.”
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In this regard, Gyumri political scientist Gagik Hambaryan said, “Our police chief is making a bit too much statements, it would be good for the police to really be active in arresting of perpetrator rather than allow the Russian side to arrest this scum in the territory of Armenia. Our police chief is a strong believer, he was going with Raffi Hovannisian to pray to console, but not everything is solved by prayers, not everything is possible to regulate by prayers. It would be good for the police chief along with the chief prosecutor visit Gyumri and calm down people along with Gyuri people who are well accepted by people: the Leader of Shirak Diocese, Shirak prosecutor, MP Martun Grigoryan, and Zaruhi Postanjyan who is not related to Gyumri, who had a great contribution to preventing great collisions. Making such statements does not bring honor to the Police Chief, it would be good if he identifies the true criminals.”
In response to the question of anti-Russian sentiments in Gyumri and the Russians’ in panic, Vladimir Gasparyan announced, “There is no such a thing. If you get pleasure from it, I do not.” To our question of whether such statements are appropriate for the Police Chief, Mr. Hambaryan replied, “It is up to him, and let the president of the country and the prime minister decide whether such a statement and such manner of talking to people is appropriate for the Police Chief. Gagik Hambaryan did not deny that there are anti-Russian sentiments in Gyumri, which, according to him, is normal. “Why local residents crush more than two dozen shops and cafes owned by Armenians when the crime is committed by an Armenian. Whereas, in the small city of Gyumri, where the Russian soldier destroys a whole family and the Gyumri people see that he is not going to be punished by RA laws, should sit calm and have no anti-Russian sentiments. Anti-Russian sentiment would have more temporary nature, and Russian cooperation with our government authorities will ease these sentiments.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
