Violation used against journalists during clashes at Khorenatsi Street overnight is inadmissible, the statement of Armenia's Ombudsman's Office received by ArmInfo, reads.
"There were also journalists among those who suffered during the clashes between the supporters of Sasna Tsrer group and policemen at Khorenatsi Street overnight. We condemn this as a display of violence and as a negative factor in terms of creating obstacles in work of mass media. We recall that such actions are punishable no matter who has conducted them a representative of state agency or participant of protest. In this light all the materials will be sent to relevant agencies. We ask all those who have non published facts of use of force against journalists to present these materials so that we can proceed with the cases", the statement reads.
To note, clashes occurred between police and the supporters of Sasna Tsrer group at Khorenatsi Street overnight. The demonstrators started to throw stones on the law enforces, when the latter did not answer anything to their request to send food to the armed group. The policemen used special measures to drive off the crowd. The protesters built barricades from trashcans on the territory. According to the Healthcare Ministry 45 injured people including 25 policemen applied to medical centers after clashes at Khorenatsi Street.
To recall, on July 17, Artsakh war hero Zhirayr Sefilyan's armed supporters, who are calling themselves "Sasna Tsrer" (The Daredevils of Sasun), seized the building of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment in Erebuni district of Yerevan. They demand releasing Sefilyan, who was arrested on June 20 on suspicion of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition. The armed group is still holding police as hostages. Deputy Head of the Patrol- Guard Service Regiment, Colonel Artur Vanoyan was killed in the incident. Armenian MP Nikol Pashinyan says that during his visit to the Erebuni Police Department building he saw 26 members of the "Sasna Tsrer" group.