Armenia: Official Response

Unzipped reports that there has been an official response to video circulating which shows security services shooting directly in front of them rather than into the air as the authorities claim. The blog notes that although prosecutors are seeking independent verification, they are already casting doubts on the authenticity of the video despite not having anyone authenticate the material to date.

The blog also says that the reason the video was seen despite attempts to restrict the dissemination of information other than official state propaganda is testimony to the power of the Internet.

[…] Hakob Gharakhanian [a senior prosecutor involved in the ongoing criminal investigation] questioned the authenticity of a video clip of the violence circulating on the Internet which shows a group of special police officers opening automatic gunfire in the direction of the demonstrators. Nonetheless, he said, Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian has instructed his subordinates to examine the footage and determine whether the police indeed shot at the crowd.