Police in Armenia used force to disperse a largely peaceful protest on June 23, 2015, raising concerns about potential human rights violations, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday, June 24.

The organization urged Armenian authorities to immediately open a thorough and impartial investigation to determine whether the force used was lawful and proportionate, and if not, ensure accountability for those responsible for use of excessive force.

[Authorities] should investigate all allegations of beatings, unlawful destruction of journalists’ equipment, and arbitrary detention of journalists covering the protests. The investigation should also examine the circumstances in which water cannons were deployed, such as what warnings were given to protesters and operational instructions on targeting of water jets.

“Even if the Yerevan demonstration was unauthorized, nothing can justify physical attacks on largely peaceful demonstrators and journalists covering the protests,” said Giorgi Gogia, senior South Caucasus researcher at Human Right Watch. “Police responsible for beating protesters and interfering with the work of journalists should be held to account.”

On June 19, demonstrators began round-the-clock protests in Yerevan, the capital, against plans by the national electricity company to raise electricity prices for the third time in three years. Hundreds of young people joined the protests, which took place on central Liberty Square, organized by the non-partisan, non-political group, “No To Plunder.”

On June 22 hundreds of the demonstrators marched toward the presidential palace. When the police blocked them, they sat down on Marshal Baghramyan Avenue, one of Yerevan’s main thoroughfares. Early on June 23, the authorities warned protesters that the gathering was unsanctioned and told them to clear the street. The police warned that if the protesters did not cooperate, the police would use “special means” to disperse them. Soon thereafter police forcibly dispersed the crowd.

On the evening of June 23, several thousand people gathered at the site of the dispersed protest, to demonstrate against the police use of force. The new demonstration included many of those previously participating in the protests, as well as many of their parents and other supporters.

“With the renewed protests, Armenian authorities have a chance to show respect for peaceful assemblies and refrain from repeating the violence against demonstrators,” Gogia said. “The authorities should make clear at the highest levels that aggressive and illegal police actions will absolutely not be tolerated.

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