These are videos taken at the regular Friday political walks of opposition youth activists in Yerevan. The police and Red Berets used force against multiple individuals, as can be seen in the video, including punching and kneeing Vahagn Gevorgyan, who was recently released on amnesty, and is the son of one of the editors of Haykakan Zhamanak, Haik Gevorgyan.
Narek Hovakimyan, who was beaten on July 25, 2008 for his political views and activities, was also vocal during this protest. In response to accusations by the police that the youth’s statements were insulting to Sargsyan, he asked a very simple, yet important question. Here is the transcript (starting at 4:58):
“Mister Zurabyan, one minute, Mister policeman, answer me one question…
When I want him to resign, when I find that his policies are wrong, that with his policies he is destroying the Fatherland…
Am I insulting him personally when I yell out, ‘Heratsir’?
I am a 20 year old free citizen of the Republic of Armenia
Please answer my question.
What is it that has insulted him personally?
Have we cursed?
Have we said something about him personally?
All we’ve said is ‘Heratsir’
What is it that is personally insulting in that?”
Not surprisingly, the policeman is completely unable to answer the question. His muffled response is something like, ‘you don’t understand.’
[Heratsir - to leave, in this case to leave office, to resign]
Tigran Arakelyan has made an announcement that he is restarting his hunger strike as of September 8th, at 10 am. The following is a summary of his statement:
He notes that he has been in prison since July 5th, and in the prison hospital since July 15th, as he is suffering the effects of having been hit on the head by the butt of a gun by someone in the group which attacked him and the other youth. He has been treated well while in the hospital, but his condition is worsening. It no longer matters to him when his illness will reach a critical point. No investigation has been made of his case, and no reason has been given for the 2 month prolongation of his imprisonment.
He considers himself to be a political hostage, imprisoned solely for his political views. He does not consider the actions against him as personal, but rather as actions against the active youth, and against the people. From the beginning, the authorities hoped they could silence and intimidate the youth. But they were unsuccessful, and it is time they resigned from such methods.
He apologizes to his friends, the members of HAK, and the RoA President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, all of whom tried to persuade him not to go to this extreme form of protest due to his present poor health. However, he is standing by his decision to go on hunger strike.
Yesterday, on Friday, 14th of August young members of Aremnian National Congress (ANC) and particularly members of HIMA and Hatuk Gund youth intiatives organized a youth demonstration in support of Tigran Arakelyan – opposition young activist – who was detained on 5th of July (Day of Constitution) based on the fabricated charges of hooliganism (more about the case here and here).
Opposition young activists started their demonstration from the ANC Headquarters and continued downtown Yerevan. They were holding posters in support of Tirgan and other political prisoners as well as they were chanting famous opposition slogans such as “Struggle, struggle till the end” and “1+1+1+1+1+”.
Representatives of the opposition youth activists reaffirmed their readiness to organize regular public awareness raising demonstrations until all political prisoners are set free. Next demonstration is scheduled on next Friday, 21st of August.
No incidents were recorded with policemen although they were following the youth through the whole demonstration.
Thirty-six youth members of the ANC made the following announcement on July 30, in defense of Arman Babajanyan, chief editor of Zhamanak daily newspaper:
“Arman Babajanyan’s extremely poor health has forced us to announce that we, the undersigned, are ready to take his place in prison for one month, in exchange for his early release.”
The announcement is still open to signatures.
Addendum: On July 31, 35 more young members of the ANC from the United States have joined the petition.
This graffiti is at the intersection of Mashtots and Grigor Lusavorich Streets.
The two armed men are depicted in the stance very similar to that of the army gunmen of the infamous March 1 video.
Below statement has been submitted to the Armenian Embassy in Brussels. The full version of the statement in different languages and with signatures can be accessed here.
“We, the undersigned and the representatives of the young society, living in Europe, want to express our deep concern on the illegal actions performed against the young opposition to the government of Republic of Armenia during last months. The peak was the arrest of Tigran Arakelyan, the young activist of Armenian National Congress.
Bringing faked charges, when the victim suddenly becomes a suspect and then turns into a defendant is more typical to the most backward countries of the third world. Unfortunately, especially during the last years, the government of the Republic of Armenia do all not to stay away from these countries but to go along with them.
We strictly condemn the illegal actions of the government of RA and strongly recommend that the government stop violence against the young activists of opposition, otherwise, these issues will have to be raised at European highest echelon (authorities), which, we are sure, is not favorable with the established illegal regime in Armenia.”
Member of the youth wing of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), Tigran Arkelian, taken under custody since July 5, issued a statement.
“I was illegally detained on July 5 on alleged charges of hooliganism. In reality, I was distributing flyers informing about a July 2 opposition rally sanctioned by the Yerevan City Hall.
Just at that moment we were attacked by a group of bandits in plainclothes.
On July 6, I went on a hunger sign in protest of my illegal detention. Later in the day, my friends Karen Karapetian, Narek Aivazian, Sargis Gevorgian, Sargis Khachatrian, Arakel Semirjian, Arayik Mirzoyan and Gor Sargsian joined the hunger strike with a demand to release me.
Taking into consideration the fact that I was detained for two months and being concerned about my friends’ health condition I stop the hunger strike and urge my friends follow my example.
Our struggle is incontestable and our victory inevitable.
Please join the newly opened Facebook Group in support of Tigran Arakelyan who was detained on 5th of July by Armenian Police based on the fabricated case of hooliganism.
The group is titled “Release Tigran Arakelyan – The Youngest Political Prisoner in Armenia” and can be accessed here.
Please note that you should be subscribed with Facebook to be able to join the group.
Tigran Arakelyan has made an announcement that he is restarting his hunger strike as of September 8th, at 10 am. The following is a summary of his statement:
Thirty-six youth members of the ANC made the following announcement on July 30, in defense of Arman Babajanyan, chief editor of Zhamanak daily newspaper:
Below statement has been submitted to the Armenian Embassy in Brussels. The full version of the statement in different languages and with signatures can be accessed 
Please join the newly opened Facebook Group in support of Tigran Arakelyan who was detained on 5th of July by Armenian Police based on the fabricated case of hooliganism.