Police of Armenia have made a statement saying that prior to "preventive measures" overnight, they held negotiations with the leaders of the protest action persuading them to refrain from violence and were provided with "reasonable time" to leave the territory called Sari Tagh.
"However, the demonstrators ignored the Police calls and even resorted to sabotage and attack to achieve their goal. Taking into account the situation and the direct threat to the police officers and citizens, as well as aspiration of the activists to break into the territory of the seized Police Patrol Service Regiment and take the weapons kept there, the law-enforcers had to use special means for preventive purposes. The protesters were warned beforehand," the Police said.
Official investigation has been launched at the request of the Police Head into the facts of possible violations with regard to activists and Mass Media in the course of the special operation. The Police again urged people to rally in "another plane" and do not approach the guarded territories; otherwise, adequate measures will be taken.