23:39, 13 April 2004

Police disperse opposition meeting in Yerevan

At about 1:50-2:00 a.m. on April 13, when there were about 3-4 thousand sitting demonstrators on Bagramian Avenue, the police quickly removed barbed wire aside and launched an attack on the people using batons, explosive packs, and water jets. Meeting participants put up desperate resistance, but it was crushed, mainly due to the water jets. Then policemen started to beat people, including women and aged people, and to displace them from the avenue. Some people were arrested, journalists being among them.

Then the police attacked central offices of the Republic party, the Armenian People's Party, and the National Unity party. To all appearances, over 100 people were arrested only in the offices and nearby, including Vagarshak Arutyunian, ex-minister of defense and a member of the political council of the Republic party. The parties' offices were smashed up. Some opposition deputies were savagely beaten by the police.

Academician Rafael Kazarian's wife and son (the latter is in hospital) were injured during the dispersal of the demonstration.

Author: Ashot Ter-Grigorian, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot