Chairman of the NA Ad-Hoc Committee looking into the March 1-2 events, Samvel Nikoyan presented the Committee's report on the March 1 clashes in 90 minutes. The report mostly cited the speeches of Armenian first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and other opposition figures, OSCE/ODIHR and Human Rights Defender's reports.
Samvel Nikoyan detailed all the facts and materials at hand in a half-empty hall.
In Clause 6.2, the Committee concludes that if the state of emergency were declared after the first blasts and shots in Yerevan streets, the grave aftermaths could have been averted. The Committee finds that the presidential decree on the state emergency was belated.
The conclusion is grounded for the fact that the mob gathered near the Yerevan City Hall gradually became uncontrollable and started plunder, arson burning hundreds of vehicles, breaking windows and robbing nearby shops and offices.
The Committee has come forth with proposals along with conclusions. To exclude repetition of March 1, the Committee suggests eliminating "Cheryomukha-7" special device.
The Committee also suggests reviewing legal acts on police activities and use of force and conforming them to the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as to the UN basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law-enforcement agencies.
The most interesting is the fact that the Committee raises the importance of amending the RA Law on the Supervisory Chamber. The amendments will make the Chamber forward its findings to the Prosecutor's Office, which is "an effective way of combat against corruption and impunity."
The report also voices concern over the country's socio-economic state, home political affairs, drawbacks of the democratic system and highlights freedom of press and speech, plurality and impartiality.
Note that National Democratic Union (AZhM) representative Artavazd Vardanian and New Times Party (NZhK) Chairman Aram Karapetian didn't sign the report.
