Serzh Sarkisyan: Authorities responsible for March 1 events
Armenian authorities are responsible for events that took place om March 1. Newly elected president of Armenia, acting prime minister Serzh Sarkisyan made the statement while speaking in national TV live broadcast on March 13.
Serzh Sarkisyan reminded that he repeatedly warned that such scenario was possible, and almost all candidates spoke about it in the election campaign. “But we failed to prevent it, which makes us responsible for what happened,” he said. At the same time, Sarkisyan is convinced, it is not timely now to evaluate, what side is more to blame. It is time to think about how to deal with the consequences.
Commenting on the question about the police being prepared enough for the events of March 1-2 and often acting just silly, Sarkisyan remarked that the facts were just another evidence that the police had not initially been prepared to suppress the protesters. He admitted, at the same time, that the police was not sufficiently equipped, in many respects worse than the army.
The authorities did their best to prevent the clashes, he asserted. “Allegations stating that the protesters were suggested to hold their actions only on the square of the Dynamo Sport Complex and the railway station square, are false. Officers of the law-enforcement agencies asked the protesters to proceed to the square before the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. But the offer was rejected since it was when Levon Ter-Petrosyan had already issued instruction to deploy the rally before the French embassy. Then they set up barricades there, and did not follow appeals of the police to avoid illegal action,” Sarkisyan accounted.
Answering the question on whether guns were used against the protesters: “No, not against the protesters. We are speaking here of people who performed plunder, and of armed people,” Serzh Sarkisyan explained. He stressed the strict distinction between armed people and protesters. The country's legislation contains regulations on cases in which law enforcement officers have the right to use weapons, he has reminded.
Sarkisyan observed that in a regular situation, his victory and following merger of political forces could become a holiday. But the post-election events smashed not only the election process, but the people and the country.
Commenting of the question about whether employees of law-enforcement agencies are going to be prosecuted, Sarkisyan has emphasized that all facts are being examined in criminal proceedings. “Not a single innocent person will be held accountable, but all the guilty will be punished,” he said.
In the presidential election of February 19 in Armenia, prime minister Serzh Sarkisyan was elected head of state. According to official CEC data, he received 52.82% of ballots. Opposition candidate Ter-Petrosyan followed him with 21.5% of votes.
Radical opposition headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan organized protest rallies, demanding that new election be held. On March 1, in a clash of a protesters with the police, eight people were killed, according to official data. The riot has been stopped after a state of emergency was declared in Yerevan.
Constitutional Court of Armenia has confirmed victory of the governmental candidate Serzh Sarkisyan.
14:04 03/14/2008
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