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Armenians continue anti-government rallies in Yerevan

15 August 2016 16:04 (UTC+04:00)
Armenians continue anti-government rallies in Yerevan

By Rashid Shirinov

Opposition rallies against the Armenian government continue in the capital of the country, Yerevan.

Protesters in Yerevan and across Armenia staged mass demonstrations after the Sasna Tser movement, an armed group that took over the police station on July 17 for two weeks. They were demanding the release of jailed opposition leader Jirair Sefilian, and calling for the resignation of the government.

After another rally of July 29, there were revealed credible reports of violence and excessive use of force by the police to disperse protestors during the night of July 29-30. Then, Armenian police arrested 165 people.

Following the events, 73 people addressed medical institutions with injuries of varying severity. Some of them still continue receiving treatment in hospitals of Yerevan. During the crackdown of police, journalists and cameramen also got injured.

Alec Yenigomshyan, member of the Pre-Parliament of Armenia civil initiative, who addressed the rally on August 14, called on the Armenians to continue protests till the end.

He read out the list of Armenian political prisoners, and stressed that the armed group Sasna Tsrer, members of which surrendered only after two weeks of resistance, “are even more focused on political struggle” against the current government.

The opposition reiterated its demands, particularly the resignation of Serzh Sargsyan and his regime, and formation of a new government which would base on trust.

Meanwhile, another member of the Pre-Parliament Areg Nazaryan informed that a big rally will be held on August 19.

Politicians, arrested in connection with the events in Yerevan, are political prisoners, said lawyer Seda Safaryan at a meeting with journalists on August 15.

“Every request we submit is being rejected,” she said, adding that the lawyers defending the arrested will have to address international courts if the situation does not change.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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