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The Armenian Police released a statement on the events that took place in Gyumri and at Yerevan’s Liberty Square on Thursday.

The text of the statement is below.

“Yesterday at 10 pm a number of citizens were detained at Liberty Square, Yerevan. According to the detainees' statements, they had gathered spontaneously to follow the events unfolding in the city of Gyumri. Two of the detainees were carrying pistols.

Armenian Police, remaining faithful to the values and rules established by the Armenian Constitution, international human rights norms and the law “On the Freedom of Assemblies,” have so far guaranteed and continue to guarantee the normal course of peaceful assemblies, and the Police have always displayed a tolerant attitude unless the assembly retains its peaceful nature.

Police of the Republic of Armenia state that a public event attended by armed persons, irrespective of their motivation and the legality of keeping and carrying arms, can neither be protected by the Constitution and the law nor treated tolerantly because of the possible grievous consequences.

Police of the Republic of Armenia are warning that the armed persons' participation in assemblies requires application of urgent rigorous measures, stipulated by law, so that the peaceful participants of the assembly and the public will not sustain any grave and irreversible damage.

Police of the Republic of Armenia find it necessary to mention that the Police may terminate an assembly in the order stipulated by Article 33 of the RA law “On the Freedom of Assemblies” if there is а threat of disproportionate restrictions of the constitutional rights of other persons or those of the public interest.”