By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East
YEREVAN, Armenia – On March 1, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan declared a state of emergency. This declaration followed clashes between state police and protesters in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital. The Armenian Health Ministry reported that the violence left eight individuals dead and 131 people, including 57 police officers, injured.
Protesters began to gather in the capital on February 20, to demonstrate against what they claim to be “rigged” elections. The February 19 presidential elections resulted in Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian winning a 53% majority to the opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian’s 21.5%. For ten days, protesters engaged in peaceful demonstrations, which consisted of mostly marches and slogan chanting. By March 1, over 15,000 people had gathered in Yerevan to protest the election results.
The opposition and protesters claim that the government rigged the election in favor of Sarkisian, a close ally of Kocharyan, the current president. While most media report that election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) claimed that the elections were “mostly democratic,” the New York Times writes otherwise.
According to the New York Times, OSCE observers concluded that 16% of the count was “bad” or “very bad.” They state that in one recount, a Western observer opened an envelope supposedly containing ballots for Sarkisian; however, the top ballot was marked for Ter-Petrosian. Also, there are claims that votes were bought and that television coverage, which is mostly state run, was “embarrassingly skewed.”
On March 1, protesters and state police clashed in the capital; resulting in President Kocharyan declaring a state of emergency. The source of the violence is disputed. According to Reuters, Kocharyan accused demonstrators of firing weapons and grenades and planning a coup. However, the opposition states that weapons were planted near the demonstrators’ camp, that the police used force to disperse the opposition supporters, and that the violence escalated after a protester was killed by the police.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, both expressed concern over the lethal force used by the state’s police and military against the demonstrators. HRW called for an immediate investigation of whether lethal force was used in accordance to international law.
The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials limits the use of lethal force to the minimum extent necessary. This means that lethal force may be used only when less extreme means are insufficient to protect lives.
The state of emergency is in effect until March 20. During this period all public gatherings are banned and a media blackout is imposed.
For more information, please see:
ArmenPress – Parliament Confirms State of Emergency, Health Authorities Confirm Death of 8 People Killed in Clashes – 2 March 2008
BBC – Eight Killed in Armenia Protests – 2 March 2008
Human Rights Watch – Armenia: Civilians Die as Police Suppress Demonstrations and Riots – 2 March 2008
The Independent – Riots over Vote Force State of Emergency in Armenia – 2 March 2008
International Herald Tribune – Armenia Clamps Down after Post-Election Violence – 2 March 2008
New York Times – Protesters and Police Clash as Armenia Unrest Grows – 2 March 2008
Reuters – Eight Killed in Armenia Protests, OSCE Sent – 2 March 2008
UN News Centre – Deadly Post-Election Protests in Armenia Concern UN Human Rights Chief – 2 March 2008
