26 March 2008, 12:32
Police of Yerevan brings about 40 persons from Severny Avenue to police stations
Today, for more than one hour, starting from 6 p.m. local time, members of law enforcement bodies of Armenia detained and took to police stations about 40 persons out of those who rallied in the Severny Avenue in Yerevan.
In spite of the presence in the Avenue of members of opposition and journalists, policemen, acting in groups, approached certain individuals, forced them away from the Avenue and violently put into police cars.
There are many women, both elderly ladies and young girls among the detainees. Liudmila Sarkisyan, leader of the "Gnchak" Social-Democratic party, was among those who were taken to police stations. In her telephone call to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, Ms Sarkisyan, who was then kept at the Central Police Station, said that she was told there: "Don't walk along the streets," to what she replied that she would come again to the Severny Avenue for sure. She has also expressed her confidence that the detained people would be released today.
The people who have rallied in the Avenue managed to "fight back" four women from the policemen who were about to put them into the car. Among these women was Melisa Brown, the wife of Alexander Arzumanyan, Chairman of the Central Election Office of Ter-Petrosyan, who was arrested and is now kept at the SIZO (pre-trial facility) of the Service of National Security.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent
