News - Armenian Parliament Speaker supports police's use of force against protesters

During a recent interview on Public Television, Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan defended the use of force by the police against protesters. Simonyan asserted that Armenia's current government is one of the most democratic in its modern history, according to assessments from international organizations. While he acknowledged the right to freedom of speech in Armenia, he emphasized the importance of respecting the law and the so-called “the steel mandate.” Simonyan's comments also referenced the events of March 1, 2008, which were marked by violence and resulted in 10 fatalities. He stated that although Armenia does not commemorate these events, it is crucial to uphold the rule of law, as the voters have consistently emphasized the need to enforce it. “We do not repeat March 1, but the law must be respected. After all, our voters have always told us that the steel mandate must be enforced,” he said.