ArmInfo. I cannot give a final assessment of the restriction of the rights to freedom of movement of residents of the border villages of Tavush, because I must understand on what grounds the movement was limited. Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan stated during a briefing with journalists on May 3.
She noted that it is very possible that the grounds for such actions by law enforcement officers are proportionate, as provided for by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights or other international criteria.
"I need official explanations about the proportionality of the grounds, after which I can give an assessment," Manasyan said, adding that she turned to the Police yesterday for clarification.
Notably, from the early morning of May 2, the RA Police forces blocked all roads leading to the village of Kirants, bordering Azerbaijan. As local residents note, the road leading to the Kirants, from the village of Berkaberd is blocked. As a result, even ambulances cannot reach Kirants. It became known that the health condition of the famous 92-year-old grandmother Lena, who joined the protests against the transfer of part of the village to Azerbaijan, has sharply deteriorated. The situation in Kirants continues to remain extremely tense; the nerves of local residents have reached their peak, who believe that the law enforcement agencies of Armenia, through their actions, are actually opening the doors to the country to the enemy. More than 20 men from the village, whose relatives and friends died during the Artsakh war, were detained. Entry and exit to the village is still blocked, including for the head of the Tavush diocese, Bagrat Srbazan. According to local residents, law enforcement officers dismantled external surveillance cameras in the village.