Names of Those Guilty

The activists of Mashtots Park continue their struggle demanding prosecution and punishment of the municipality for the illegal decision of building boutiques in the park. The activists Gor Hakobyan, Yeghia Nersisyan, Arpine Galfayan and Ruzanna Grigoryan stated this in a press conference today.

They say though their main demand was met, and the boutiques are dismantled, this way of solving problems and misuse of presidential powers is unacceptable for them.

“The municipality was the sole responsible for the solution of the problem while the president could only guarantee the Constitution and bring up Constitutional issues to resolve the issue by way of a legal procedure,” Ruzanna Grigoryan said.

The activists demand prosecution of the policemen for using violence and illegally arresting the peaceful citizens protecting their constitutional rights. Gor Hakobyan said the proceedings launched against the activists should have been launched against the policemen, for misuse of their powers.

The activists reminded that on April 29 the police arrested 7 activists and used violence. They demand that the special investigative service investigate the case because the police cannot conduct an impartial investigation.

The activists said their further steps will aim at seeking for ways of holding the city hall responsible for the unlawful decision. They mentioned the names of people who are guilty: Mayor Taron Margaryan, chief architect of Yerevan Narek Sargsyan, and the police officials Karen Movsisyan, Valery Osipyan, Robert Melkonyan, who directed the policemen on April 29. Then they need to see into the share of guilt of the municipal council.

They will not overlook the issue that the boutiques had been located on Abovyan Street which is also a public area and were thus illegal. The activists will pursue improvement of the park and its conservation as a cultural area.

“Our struggle resulted in a new culture of political struggle in Armenia, it was possible to achieve change in a country ruled by the criminal and oligarchic system for 20 years,” they said. Further on the activists will focus on the issue of mines.