Arsen Babayan: What happened was a punitive action, as in the case of beating Abraham Gasparyan

June 12 was really a watershed; it was at least the most brutal and unprecedented behavior I have ever seen by the police, lawyer Arsen Babayan said at a press conference.

He noted that, in his opinion, it was an act of revenge against the participants of the movement.

“Abraham Gasparyan was isolated and brutally beaten by about 20 red berets. This does not comply with any rules for using police force,” he said.

With regard to the stun grenades that were used, Babayan noted that they were thrown without any resistance or attack.

“The people there did not do anything that would give them legal reasons to take special measures. But before their adoption, people were brutally beaten,” Babayan said.

According to him, the police actions started in Kirants, Tavush, when, for some reason, they stopped the cars of the march participants.

“Dozens of cars remained impounded for 15–20 days. People have been arrested. Such is the state of affairs that they say that people have used violence or participated in mass unrest. The thing is, they must be able to corroborate their account,” Babayan said.