The only way of achieving political demands is legal struggle – political scientist

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS. It is meaningless to put political demands and solve them by force. The experience showed that Armenia’s current internal-political situation is such that the issues are impossible to solve with such measures, doctor in political sciences, professor Garik Keryan said in an interview with “Armenpress”.

“I consider impossible to solve issues with such measures taking into account both people’s mood and the degree of the political system’s stability. I think all these can have a meaning of political lesson. And if the political forces want to propose certain demands, the way is one: a legal struggle within the framework of the constitutional right, participation in elections with own political platform and voicing their own demand through such measures. This was the first incident in our 25 years of history when an attempt has been made to solve a political issue in such a way”, Garik Keryan said. He welcomed the authorities’ discretion who until the last moment did not conduct military operations, as well as the gunmen’s last decision who gave priority to the process of saving the Armenian people’s life.

Referring to the Armenian political forces’ behavior during this period, the political scientist said there was an obvious passivity.

“We didn’t see political forces’ significant participation, they didn’t issue statements and take actions supporting the authorities or the gunmen. The actions of Daredevils of Sassoun (Sasna Tsrer) received a wide reaction within the public, there were people who condemned their actions, who supported them, of course, it would be desirable if the parties would take actions as well. I don’t know what stood behind it, maybe later it will be justified that the silence was a right step not to aggravate the tension, but it is fact that silence was maintained in the political field”, Garik Keryan said.

In the morning of July 17 gunmen stormed a Police HQ in Yerevan and took hostages – demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilyan, who was imprisoned a month ago, charged with illegal possession, transportation and acquirement of weapons and ammunition.

Police Colonel Artur Vanoyan has been killed by the gunmen during the ambush.

Colonel Aram Hovhannisyan, Lt. – Colonel Hrach Khosteghyan, Corporal Gagik Mkrtchyan received gunshot wounds.

The hostages were released within a week, but on July 27 the gunmen took hostage the paramedics who came to show medical assistance to the wounded in Police station.

On July 30 a police officer Yuri Tepanosyan has been killed by sniper fire from the seized police precinct.

On July 31 the gunmen laid down the weapons and surrendered.