Armenian Government Bans Open-Air Police Violence

By Sergey  

   

 

Brutality-friendly areas to be significantly reduced

  YEREVAN – Driven by the increasing displeasure of violence taking place in public areas, on Monday, the Government ruled to ban traditional violence in the cultural areas of downtown Yerevan. Opera square, Republic Square and Aram Khachaturyan museum among other areas will be targeted as violence free zones by the police and other law enforcers. Police officials are reluctant to embrace the new restriction but vow to follow the reform sharply.  

International organizations saluted the law as a “step in the right direction”. In Yerevan,  European Council representative Zelina  Clifshots stressed the need to further entrench democratic reforms: “Armenia is moving in the right direction. The European Council definitely frowns upon violence in public places. We hope that this new reform will succeed in keeping Yerevan’s public parks and recreational areas free of violence. We also commend the positive attitude of police officers who have committed to reducing the geographic scope of violence and are further taking all atrocities to specialized indoor facilities. “  

Հետիոտներին կտուգանեն, կձեռբակալեն կամ կցբխեն

By Sergey and Narek

Նոր երևանաբնակ ընտանիքը ճիշտ է անցնում փողոցը

ՀՀ Ոստիկանանության մամլո հաղորդագրություն. “Հարգելի համաքաղաքացիներ, այսօրվանից փողոցը զեբրայից դուրս անցնելու դեքում դուք տուգանվելու էք: Ընդունեք մեր շնորհավորանքները և ծանոթացեք ձեր թարմացված իրավունքներին: Տուգանքը կազմելու է 3000 դրամ, իսկ այն չունենալու դեպքում խախտողներին 3 ժամ պահելու են ոստիկանության բաժնում: Ոստիկանությունը նախատեսել է այլընտրանքային տուգանք անվճարունակ խախտողների համար` նրանց դեմքի չանային զանգվածը կենթարկվի համալիր ցբխման 3-ից 5 անգամ` կախված խախտման տեսակից, իսկ իգական օրինախախտներին կներարկվի ծամոնային անակնկալ սանրվածքի առանցքային հատվածում:”

Police Pride Parade Blows Downtown Yerevan

By Sergey

'We are police and proud of it!'

Mashtots avenue in downtown Yerevan was covered with marching traffic police officers late Friday celebrating their liberties and chanting slogans “give police a chance,” “pull over, now” among others.

Armenian police have been under severe social denial for the past few decades, but as more liberal moods begin to awake in newly independent Armenia, more police officers disband the veil of shyness and publicly exhibit their identity to the nation.

“I’m proud to be who I am and I don’t care what people think. Public opinion does not decide my personal choices,” says one of the marchers, captain Abgar Popikyan walking in vanguard of the parade. “At first I was humbled to reveal my identity to family and friends, but it’s just not right to deny it. Yes, world, I’m a policeman and you have to accept me the way I am!,” claims Popikyan.

Armenian Drivers Forced to Buckle Up Prior to Car Accidents

By Sergey

"Seat belts are for losers' claim local drivers

“This makes no sense,” freaks our taxi driver Artem, 34. “I have never been in a car accident and I still have to wear the seatbelt? What if I never have an accident till the end of my life? Does the government realize how ridiculous this will make me look?”

Fair disappointment of drivers formed into a rally in front of the Parliament on Barghramyan street. Mad crowd was burning seat belt in the street and singing patriotic songs, while the activists were bringing in tents and snickers bars.

“We will not move from here, until the Parliament takes a new decision allowing to ignore seat belts and bans women drivers, too, while we are about it,” says, Miasnik Karagyozyan, representative of the mad crowd. “Also we want some kind of on-site entertainment and booze, as this rally might take a while”