Lawyer and journalist at “Hetq” On-Line Grisha Balasanyan in the interview with Iravaban.net expressed an opinion that use of severe force against the protestors against the electricity price hike by the police was unlawful operation.
It must be pointed that on 23 June early in the morning in Baghrmyan Avenue the Police dispersed the protestors with high-pressure water cannons. 237 demonstrators were detained and taken to different police departments.
The protest action was a peaceful one and keeps on being peaceful. There was no threat of violation of the public order, the people were not armed and did not make revolutionary challenges. So by applying severe force the police appeared beyond the framework of the law,”- G. Balasanyan said.
The Police activities were also unlawful in case of the detention of 237 demonstrators. Actually, even witnesses were deprived of freedom; their freedom of movement was limited in the duration of hours and they had to pass the examinations assigned by the Police.
G. Balasanyan noted that this was the first case during the last years that violence was applied against the media representatives during the action. “It seemed they intentionally neutralized the media to hinder free circulation of information. It was denouncing that the Police activities were directed against the freedom of speech.”
