On November 20 the regular sitting was held of the Ad-Hoc Inquiry Committee into the events that occurred on March 1-2, 2008 in Yerevan and their reasons with a view to submitting its conclusion to the National Assembly, presided over by Mr. Samvel Nikoyan. Mr. Hovhannes Hunanyan, Mr. Armen Yeritsyan, Deputies of the Chief of the Police and Mr. Levon Zurabyan and Mr. Davit Shahnazaryan, representatives of the opposition were invited to the meeting.

Mr. Nikoyan noted that Mr. Levon Zurabyan and Mr. Davit Shahnazaryan were invited to the sitting for giving clarifications, but they refused to come. It was informed that Mr. Levon Zurabyan was giving a press conference at the same time and he invited the members of the committee to participate in it. Mr. Nikoyan said that if Mr. Zurabyan did not aim to hide anything or avoid explanations he could have come to the sitting and postpone the press conference. According to him the invitation is still valid and will be presented in written form once again. Otherwise it turns out that up to now the committee addressed only the high-ranking officials of the police, but everybody knows that there were not only policemen.

The Chairman of the committee said that they applied to the police by a letter, demanding to present to the committee all the copies of the results of all investigation of the cases, when the police used firearms during the events of March 1-2. In his response letter the police answered that they were with the body of preliminary investigation, after which the second letter was sent with some negative emphasis. According to Mr. Nikoyan, in the answer of Mr. Gevorg Mheryan, deputy head of the Police, it is said: “Answering your question I announce that the police is very sorry for being disturbed for the second time with such simple questions.”Mr. Nikoyan and the members of the committee expressed their indignation, related to the answer of the deputy chief of the Police, who qualified the questions of the committee as “very simple.” Mr. Nikoyan said that if Mr. Gevorg Mheryan answers that way he would ask the head of the police for Mr. Gevorg Mheryan not to answer the letters of the committee.

Mr. Armen Yeritsyan and Mr. Hovhannes Hunanyan, Deputies of the Chief of the Police,  gave clarifications, related to the actions of the police during the events of March 1-2. They presented the actions of the subdivisions, headed by themselves, during the whole events of March 1-2, in detail. According to Mr. Armen Yeritsyan at about 7 am an area survey would have been taken place in the Theatrical Square, as operative information was received that there were a great number of arms and explosives. The policemen turned to demonstrators to let them run the area survey. The demonstrators did not obey the legal requirements and attacked the policemen, not having even means of individual defence. And the Policemen on point duty service came to help the policemen, as a result of which within 30 minutes they managed to solve the facing problems and the area survey took place. A great number of arms, ammunition and drugs were discovered. Mr. Yeritsyan noted that they were at the Theatrical Square till 18.00, and about 18.30 they were moved to Mashtots avenue the crossroad of Grigor Lusavorich, where they should have to protect public order. An operative information was received that mass disorders were begun in the territories of the Embassies of Russia and France and Municipality, employees of the police were beaten, weapons were stolen, barricades were constructed and cars were burnt. According to the information, a part of the demonstrators should have moved to the residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia and the National Assembly, a part - to the city centre. At almost 20.00 the demonstrators attacked the police with explosives and cars were burnt. Shots were noticed behind the barricades. According to Mr. Yeritsyan, according to the law each policeman has the right and should use weapons in case of threat of a person’s life and health. No one gave an order for using weapons. The employees of the police system were not armed. There were employees of the police troops, who had weapons.

The deputy chief of the Police noted that there were 173 persons from the central division of the police, 350 persons from the branches of Yerevan 80 persons from Ararat marz, - 133- from Aragatsotn marz, 150 from Gegharkunik, 54 from Vayots Dzor and 220 from Lori. And there were 550 policemen from the police troops.

According to Mr. Hovhannes Hunanyan, Deputy of the Police the leaders of the opposition negotiated not for settlement of the situation, but they aimed to win some time and to increase the number of the demonstrators.

Mr. Sargis Muradkhanyan, member of the National Unity, presented the committee the statement of the NU (National Unity) party, through which it is proposed tothe committee to present a petition to Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia -to release the arrested, related to the events of March 1-2. The members of the committee noted that they have not the authority to make a decision on behalf of their presented parties. If Mr. Muradkhanyan, as a member of the committee, presents a proposal, it would be certainly discussed.

If Mr. Muradhanjan as the member of the commission, will present the offer on its own behalf it will be necessarily discussed.