StatementsHeadlines
ABA Condemns Police Response to ‘Electric Yerevan’ Protests
Calls for Diasporan, International Vigilance
The Armenian Bar Association (ABA) issued the following statement condemning the use of force by Armenian authorities on June 23, when the Electric Yerevan protesters were met with water cannons and beatings and arrests at the hands of the police. It also called on diasporan and international organizations to continue closely monitoring the development of events.
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Security forces
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Extremely well written article. I am so proud of the people who participated in this protest of making their voices heard and not bowing to the government’s decisions when they don’t believe they are in the best interest of the people. This is the real sign of a country having a chance at democracy– a motivated, determined and active citizenry. More power to you all.
Another nonsensical scolding from afar by 3-piece-suits who just love to lecture those wild, unruly Caucasus Armenians from a vantage point of, you know, highly polished perch of American jurisprudence.
We in the (West) Armenian Diaspora are so much more civilized and intellectually advanced, aren’t we ?
Being officers of law, the ladies and the gentlemen who signed the vacuous admonition ought to know that nowhere in United States* would authorities allow blocking of any city street by demonstrators without ample prior notice and after obtaining of necessary permits.
Nobody in RoA authorities was bothering the peaceful demonstrators in the least while they were at Liberty Square.
True or False.
When some decided to take the next step, an illegal act, and blockade a major street without prior notice or permit, they gave the authorities the legal right to use force to remove them. RoA authorities tried to reason with the sitting protesters for 9 hours or so, before resorting to force.
How do you think police officers in US enforce** the law, if the individual refuses to obey lawful orders of a uniformed police officer ?
And the ABA is in no position to demand anything from authorities of RoA until it officially condemns the illegal acts*** by the demonstrators of completely blocking a major avenue in downtown Yerevan.
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* again: I will give one example of how US authorities respond to illegal blocking of a public street by demonstrators.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/01/500-arrested-after-wall-street-protest-on-nys-brooklyn-bridge/?test=latestnews
{New York City police say about 700 protesters have been arrested after they swarmed the Brooklyn Bridge and shut down a lane of traffic for several hours.}
(maybe ABA can republish the admonition they issued to NYPD in that case: ABA did admonish NYPD in 2011, didn’t it ?)
** http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=1374
{The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has stated that “…in diffusing situations, apprehending alleged criminals, and protecting themselves and others, officers are legally entitled to use appropriate means, including force.”}
{The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in its study, Police Use of Force in America 2001, defined use of force as “The amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject.” The IACP also identified five components of force: physical, chemical, electronic, impact, and firearm.}
*** illegal occupation of a public street; theft and destruction of private property of Sanitek.