Criminal case opened over Ijevan incident - police chief

YEREVAN, July 18. /ARKA/. Armenian Police Chief Valery Osipyan, who is now in Ijevan, told journalists that a criminal case has been opened over the incident that happened yesterday in Ijevan.People who have been cutting down trees for years, blocked yesterday the national road on Wednesday at 20:00 trapping hundreds of vehicles.  

The police's attempts to unblock the road lead to clashes, and 13 people were taken in hospitals as a result.

Osipyan said that only citizens have attacked policemen. He said he instructed the police yesterday to unblock the road, but their actions were prompted resistance. "I decided to dispatch additional forces to Ijevan and I myself hurried here," he said. "I personally reported about the situation to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"Osipyan said he met some 30 citizens and talked to them explaining illegality of their actions.  In his words, the protesters demanded to remove the stations that monitor illegal forest cutting in Ijevan and Tavush province. They also demanded to let offenders free and return the seized cars.

"I said I will never issue such an order, and more than that - a criminal case will be opened over the incident and offenders will be punished," the police chief said. "A criminal case is already opened over hooliganism and resistance to authority. As many as 19 people are arrested."
Valery Osipyan said that that other offenders will be tracked down and prosecuted as well.

"They used to destroy forests and illegally sell wood long years," he said. "We will not let them speak with police officers and the state this way and dictate what to do next." -0---