Armenian general admits to ordering shooting of protesters
An Armenian senior police official has sparked an
outcry in the West after he admitted ordering police to open fire
at demonstrators during mass protests in Armenia in early March.
Following the confession, made by Lieut.-Gen. Grigor Grigorian, the
United States demanded that his statement be investigated and that
opposition leaders arrested during the violent suppression of
protesters in Yerevan be set free.
"We urge the release of the 67 opposition leaders who were arrested due to their political convictions," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza has said.
Armenia`s February 19 presidential election was followed by mass protests that were quelled on March 1-2. The Armenian opposition had refused to recognize the outcome of the election won by former Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, and instead took to the streets.
In his testimony before the ad hoc parliamentary commission investigating the post-election violence, Grigorian admitted that he had ordered snipers to put down the protest. He also said that prior to the clashes, security officials obtained information that opposition supporters had brought "special means" from neighboring Georgia to be used against police officers at the anti-government rally.
"We urge the release of the 67 opposition leaders who were arrested due to their political convictions," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza has said.
Armenia`s February 19 presidential election was followed by mass protests that were quelled on March 1-2. The Armenian opposition had refused to recognize the outcome of the election won by former Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, and instead took to the streets.
In his testimony before the ad hoc parliamentary commission investigating the post-election violence, Grigorian admitted that he had ordered snipers to put down the protest. He also said that prior to the clashes, security officials obtained information that opposition supporters had brought "special means" from neighboring Georgia to be used against police officers at the anti-government rally.
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