Downtown Yerevan, where demonstrators burned about 20 cars and ransacked offices and stores
Photo: Дмитрий Лебедев
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Emergency Rules Lightened in Armenia
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has cancelled some of the emergency restrictions that have been imposed in Yerevan. Subsections 6 and 7 of paragraph 4 of his order imposing a state of emergency in the country's capital are no longer in force. The first of the points banned the activities of political parties that hinder government efforts to restore order. The second allows persons who violate emergency measures to be expelled from the city.
Armenian authorities have not reported any cases of those points being enforced during the state of emergency. According to Viktor Solomonyan, press secretary to the Armenian president, there were no violations of those points. The state of emergency was declared by Kocharyan following demonstrations by supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who refused to concede defeat in the country's presidential elections. Clashes between police and participants in public meetings took place on March 1 and 2 during which there was property damage, eight deaths and 130 injuries.
The state of emergency in Yerevan will remain in effect until March 20. Strikes, public meetings and other mass events are banned and the media are only allowed to publicize official information about the domestic conditions.
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