Ombudsman: Public order maintenance does not mean beating citizens

Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan expressed concern over the June 23 incident between police and the citizens who were protesting the upcoming electricity price rise outside the building of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC).

“The maintenance of public order does not imply beating citizens. Not being able to control one’s emotions while on duty bears evidence of unprofessionalism. Therefore we expect adequate measures concerning the policemen who used disproportionate force against the protesters.

The conduct of some participants of the protest was also inadmissible. Several videos aired by the mass media show some protesters insulting policemen or pushing them. The exercise of human rights does not mean permissiveness, unlawful actions, and disrespect for law enforcers.

The Human Rights Defender will express his final opinion about the incident after he gets official explanations of the police, according to the law,” the ombudsman said in a statement.

We would remind you that yesterday the members of the initiative opposing the upcoming rise in electricity prices in Armenia from August 1, 2014 staged a protest outside the PSRC building in Yerevan.

A scuffle broke out between police and activists when law enforcers blocked the way, preventing protesters from approaching the entrance of PSRC building. 27 protesters were detained. A protester, Ara Karagyozyan, was taken to the Grigor Lusavorich medical center.