Kocharian: state of emergency was a necessity
The latest developments proved necessity of imposition of emergency rule in Yerevan, RA President Robert Kocharian told a news conference today.
"The imposition of state of emergency prevented greater losses. The law enforcement bodies possess enough materials, including video records, which will help to assess the situation correctly and undertake proper states. The investigators work round the clock. The population will be informed of the process every day," the President said.
He divided the participants of disorders into three groups. "The first group includes the initiators of the melee at the French Embassy. It can for its part be divided in two subgroups. The first subgroup incited protesters to unrest. It specifically refers to Nikol Pashinyan. The second tried to calm down the demonstrators. Here I can mention David Shahnazaryan. The third group includes those who immediately participated in the rally and then started looting," the President said.
"All these people committed different crimes. However, it would be unfair to punish the victims of the rally without punishing its initiators, who let the crowd get out of control. Gathering people, that had shouldered huge responsibility," he noted.
"We know where to search for armed participants of the melee, although they are trying to hide now," Mr Kocharian said. "I reiterate the Prime Minister's call to those who participated in the disorders to attend police stations of their own free will, what will considerably extenuate their guilt."
"The imposition of state of emergency prevented greater losses. The law enforcement bodies possess enough materials, including video records, which will help to assess the situation correctly and undertake proper states. The investigators work round the clock. The population will be informed of the process every day," the President said.
He divided the participants of disorders into three groups. "The first group includes the initiators of the melee at the French Embassy. It can for its part be divided in two subgroups. The first subgroup incited protesters to unrest. It specifically refers to Nikol Pashinyan. The second tried to calm down the demonstrators. Here I can mention David Shahnazaryan. The third group includes those who immediately participated in the rally and then started looting," the President said.
"All these people committed different crimes. However, it would be unfair to punish the victims of the rally without punishing its initiators, who let the crowd get out of control. Gathering people, that had shouldered huge responsibility," he noted.
"We know where to search for armed participants of the melee, although they are trying to hide now," Mr Kocharian said. "I reiterate the Prime Minister's call to those who participated in the disorders to attend police stations of their own free will, what will considerably extenuate their guilt."
