“Hayots Ashkhar” blames leaders of the opposition Aylentrank movement for their clash with police and ensued detention, saying that it was not the first time that they did everything to force police officers to use force against them. “The revolutionary activists did not show us anything new,” writes the pro-government paper. It says their methods of political struggle are strikingly similar to those used by organizers of so-called “color revolutions” in other former Soviet republics.

According to “Azg,” the biggest advantage which Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and his Republican Party (HHK) have over their consolidating opponents led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosian is “relentless and one-sided use of television.” In these circumstances, editorializes the paper, the Ter-Petrosian camp has no option but to rely on rallies in trying to get their message across. And that gives them an opportunity to “use the brutality of and repressions by security bodies against the authorities and the [presidential] candidate of power.” To that end, concludes “Azg,” Ter-Petrosian and his allies will not shy away from provoking violent incidents.

“168 Zham” says the police behavior during Tuesday’s incident in Yerevan was almost unanimously condemned by the country’s main political parties. “The main theme of discussions in political circles was ‘Who will benefit from this?’” editorializes the paper. “It was not by accident that even pro-government forces described police actions as a stupidity. Interestingly, none of the high-ranking police officials has assumed responsibility for the ‘operation.’ Even during terrorist acts there are those who do that.”

“Aravot” believes that by beating and arresting Aylentrank leaders the police did a huge favor to the Ter-Petrosian camp keen to publicize its Friday rally. “But since we know that law-enforcers could not have taken such a step without a high-level order, it can be said for certain that Robert Kocharian has willy nilly acted as a rally advertiser,” says the paper.

“Hayk” attacks Deputy Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian for defending the police actions in parliament on Wednesday. The pro-Ter-Petrosian says Abrahamian lied when he said that Aylentrank leader Nikol Pashinian interfered with traffic as he publicized Friday’s rally. “He did issue a threat,” says the paper. “But his appearance and dithering voice suggested that he is terrified. Hovik Abrahamian seems to have understood that not everything in the world is going according to his and Serzh Sarkisian’s plan.”

UNACCEPTABLE

A1 Plus, 25 October, 2007

“Orinats Yerkir” party condemns any attempt that restricts freedom of speech and dissemination of information, which is expressed by intolerance toward alternative approach.

The incident took place between police employees and members of Alternative public-political initiative on 23 October. The reason of the incident served the attempts of police to restrict the activities of journalists and opposition actors to disseminate information on 26 October. In the result of misunderstanding some journalists and political actors were taken to police department.

“Since we do not have the details of the incident, we refrain from giving judicial assessments to it, but consider such misdeeds unacceptable”, said the press release of “Orinats Yerkir” party.

[…] They were taken into custody after a scuffle with security forces led by Colonel Aleksandr Afian, deputy chief of the Yerevan police.

Eyewitnesses said the violence broke out after Afian demanded that Aylentrank leader Nikol Pashinian hand him a megaphone used during the march. Pashinian, who is also the editor of Armenia’s best-selling daily newspaper, refused to obey the order, they said.

“We told Afian that his actions are illegal,” Tigran, a young member of the radical opposition Hanrapetutyun party also detained on the spot, told RFE/RL. “He said, ‘I am the law and you must do whatever I want.’ Then he called up [special police wearing] red berets and they attacked and arrested us.”

The police blamed the incident on the demonstrators, accusing them of disrupting public order. Colonel Nerses Nazarian, the Yerevan police chief said they interfered with traffic and littered streets and building entrances with leaflets advertising the Ter-Petrosian rally.

“People were complaining from their balconies that it is inadmissible to toss those papers,” Nazarian told a news conference. “That also got us worried and we repeatedly warned [the demonstrators.]”

[…]

Pashinian and his allies dismissed the official version of events, saying that their street march did not violate Armenia’s law on public gatherings and was not banned by the Yerevan municipality. They accused security forces of violating their civil rights and demanded criminal proceedings against Afian. “Sashik Afian behaved like a street criminal,” charged Pashinian.

[…]

The Kentron police headquarters was earlier visited by three parliamentarians representing the opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage) party as well as Armenia’s human rights ombudsman, Armen Harutiunian. According to one of the parliament deputies, Zaruhi Postanjian, some of the detainees looked injured. But Harutiunian said he found no traces of violence on their faces and saw “beaten police officers” instead.

“They had no right to demand the megaphone,” Harutiunian told RFE/RL. “Every citizen who wants to organize a march has the right to propagate it by lawful means, including a megaphone.”

[…]

Ter-Petrosian’s political allies say the authorities are increasingly worried about his political comeback and are doing everything to disrupt his rally. They point to the refusal by virtually all Armenian TV stations to air paid adverts notifying citizens about the upcoming rally. Mikael Hayrapetian, another Aylentrank leader, alleged that the authorities provoked Tuesday’s violent incident in order to “stem a big tide that could rise on October 26.”

Such claims were effectively endorsed by Zharangutyun, one of the two opposition parties represented in Armenia’s parliament. In a written statement, the party led by former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovannisian expressed serious concern at the “growing wave of repressions” in the country. It said the authorities have grown “panicky over possible internal political developments” and are trying to intimidate their political opponents.

If you don’t react and let the state violate minor rights, they will grow bold and the violations will become worse, and harder to resist. As smart people, and Libertarians, Ayl@ntrank understands this. I see them as the second generation of the freedom fighters: HHSh and Karabagh Committee being the first.

It would have been better if the push back materialized sooner. If there was a willingness to resist the authoritarian tendencies of the Armenian state in 2000 when they closed down A1Plus TV station, things would be a little more democratic now. But it’s better now than never. Pashinian and the Ayl@ntrank movement have done an amazing job of revitalizing the idea of a free citizen willing to live in a free society.

DETAINEES TO BE SUED

A1 Plus, 24 October, 2007

The participants of yesterday’s march will be sued. The RA Police has taken an action against them, Attorney Tigran Ter-Esayan told A1+. The police considers the recent events a crime against the state. Presently, the detainees undergo medical forensic-medical examination. The results will be known later today.

As I’ve said, Armenians are pasting posters and handing out leaflets wherever they like in full sight of everyone. They also blare loud music out on street corners and set up loudspeakers outside shops and kiosks without a thought for anyone else. The police don’t act then so I can only conclude that the trouble yesterday was related to Impeachment’s activities and support for Ter Petrosian.

However, I would add again that from past experience, Pashinian and Impeachment not only are unafraid of clashing with police, they both relish and almost welcome the possibility. Nevertheless, in the case of an Aylentrank rally at the beginning of the year, Pashinian et al pushed back only when the police overstepped their mark.

NO MORE ARRESTS?

A1 Plus, 24 October, 2007

“An action has been brought on the case. There will be no more arrests. Yesterday’s events were an apparent violation of public order. They tried to exert their former methods and lead people to delusion,” Deputy Chief of Police Ararat Mahtessian told A1+.

“They gathered, chained the streets, diverted people’s attention, megaphoned the date and venue of the rally and fixed leaflets on inadmissible places. The police didn’t take drastic measures and urged the crowd to disperse. In reply to the warnings, the presentees started beating, offending and swearing. Four policemen were badly hurt. One of them even fell down. The most striking is that Shoger Matevossian was drunk. Can you imagine a drunken women participating in a march? She behaved very strangely and swore like a man. It was a mere hooliganism.”

Asked the question why deputies were denied access to the police station, Mahtessian said, “They would intervene with our activities.”