“Compared to July 23, the police, indeed, was more professional, however, a violent force is used”, said the Coordinator for “Informed citizens” NGO, Daniel Ioannisyan, in the interview with Aravot.am, referring to the police actions to disperse the sit-in at Baghramyan Avenue at the dawn. He even held back, “If they could open Baghramyan Avenue like this without using water cannons, why did not they do it on April 23.” Yesterday, in the evening, it should be noted that “No to Plunder” initiative had again closed Baghramyan Avenue protesting against the electricity price hike.
Our interlocutor reminds that Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the practice of the European Court of Human Rights clearly defines that the peaceful assembly should not be dispersed. “The peaceful demonstrator has the right to close the street. The peaceful demonstration is a key component in the public life that goes back to ancient Greece and is a key component of democracy. The peaceful demonstration can close up a street, it is also a public priority interest, because when the street is closed for some celebration, without this celebration, the country, the state and the democracy will not suffer, but without the peace demonstration, they will suffer. Streets can be closed for peaceful protests rather than for renovation of the street, passing of some official and other similar things,” opines our interlocutor.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
