Armenia: Police Confirm Eight Deaths
Rumors that between six and ten people were killed in Armenia that I published yesterday came to be true, as Armenia’s police confirm that eight people have died in the clashes between presidential election protesters and the riot police.
Image: An Armenian riot policeman examines the remains of a burnt-out vehcile in Yerevan. Tanks and troops patrolled the Armenian capital after eight people were killed and dozens injured during violent protests against the result of the presidential election. (AFP/karen minasyan)
According to Armenia Liberty:
At least eight people were killed and hundreds of others injured in the violent standoff between security forces and thousands of opposition protesters in Yerevan that ended early Sunday following a state of emergency declared by President Robert Kocharian.
The Armenian police reported the death toll, citing information received from the Ministry of Health. A police statement issued early in the morning did not identify any of the victims, suggesting that all of them were protesters.
Five of them were identified by Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General later in the day.
The law-enforcement agency said it is investigating the circumstances of their deaths. It added that 33 police officers and interior troops were hospitalized from the scene of the opposition protest with various injuries. Health Minister Harutiun Kushkian put the total number of people treated in hospitals on Saturday at 230.[…]
Aron D on 02 Mar 2008 at 11:17 pm #
Those who are responsible for the death of the citizens must be brought to justice NOW!
Shame on the heavyhandedness of the police.
Onnik Krikorian on 02 Mar 2008 at 11:57 pm #
Simon, my understanding is that nobody died during the dispersal of the protesters in Liberty Square or outside the French Embassy a little later. None of these were mentioned by opposition media as far as I am aware before the state of emergency restrictions came in. Therefore, I’m assuming these deaths happened last night and not when the rumors were circulating. Not that it really matters, I suppose.
Anyway, unless times of deaths are given for much earlier, I still suggest caution when reporting the number of fatalities. On the one hand, the opposition will try to inflate them, and on the other, the government will likely keep them low. Because of this I’m even writing “at least…” because there is so far no independent confirmation.
Aron D on 03 Mar 2008 at 5:11 am #
What is disturbing is the lives of the citizens is not valued. The heavyhandedness of the Police needs to be condemned Now. Wake up diaspora, better now than later.