Armenian police chief Alik Sargsyan denied rumors on police’s plans to frustrate the coalition-opposition talks.
Commenting on the detainment of 7 young activists of the Armenian National Congress (ANC), Sargsyan said: “This dialogue first of all proceeds from the interests of police. Normalization of political situation in the country will help more efficiently combat crime. We are not a politicized structure.”
Sargsyan informed that he met with David Harutyunyan and Levon Zurabyan, the heads of the working groups representing the authorities and coalition. He also denied journalists’ suppositions regarding connection between the arrest of ANC activists and his revenge on ANC supporter Tigran Arakelyan, who filed a suit against him.
According to the ANC, on August 9 police officers used violence against ANC activists Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the site, activists Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimajyan tried to settle the dispute but were beaten as well, the ANC said.
All above-mentioned were taken to a police station.
On their part, the police accused the ANC activists of assault.