Police break RFE/RL camera during 'special operation' on Baghramyan Avenue (video)
Before starting the ‘operation’ to clear the site of a demonstration on Baghramyan Avenue after a night of standoff with activists protesting against electricity price hike, law-enforcement officials came up to the team of RFE/RL Armenian Service that was live streaming the events on the avenue and demanded that they open the corridor. Then the police began pushing and dragging the team members, saying that they were obstructing their job. At least one RFE/RL camera used for providing the live streaming of the unfolding drama was broken by the police. Other equipment used by RFE/RL correspondents was also damaged. Men in civilian clothing attacked journalists who were covering the clashes on the site, smashed their equipment, including a camera of 1in.am and a telephone. A number of media representatives were also subjected to violence during the events. Among them was also an RFE/RL Armenian Service cameraman. Many demonstrators were also detained and taken to police stations in vehicles. Among those detained were also some journalists. 1in.am website reports that in the morning their cameraman Gor Hovhannisyan was subjected to brutal beating. The police also broke their cameras and other equipment. Also, by the order of Deputy Police Chief Levon Yeranosyan, the cameramen of the news organization, Karen Chingaryan, Hovsep Hovsepyan and Gor Hovhannsiyan, were subjected to violence and severe beating.
