Human Rights Defender Visits Citizens Taken to Police from Central Bank Protests

The rapid response group of the Human Rights Defender, as instructed, has already arrived at the police station to meet with individuals who participated in protests near the Central Bank.

According to the Public Relations Department of the Office of the Human Rights Defender, a group of citizens organized a protest on May 12 against the activities of credit organizations in front of the Central Bank. Police officials informed the protesters that one person could enter the building to meet with a representative of the Central Bank, but they declined that offer. They demanded that a representative come outside to meet with them.

Shortly thereafter, a police representative urged the protesters to cease their demonstration in a reasonable time frame since, under the decree of the governor, protests are not allowed, and social distancing must be maintained. Manuel Manukyan countered that they were not protesting but had come to meet with a representative of the Central Bank. He attempted to escalate the situation with loud calls, after which the police took some citizens into custody.

Two citizens were brought to the central division of the RA Police under Article 182 of the Administrative Code (failure to comply with the legal requirements of a police officer or military personnel).