ARMENIA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AFTER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000187

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC PREL PHUM KDEM AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AFTER
CRACKDOWN ON ELECTION DEMONSTRATORS

YEREVAN 00000187 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: On March 1, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in
the city of Yerevan. The state of emergency is to last until
March 20, unless extended. It prohibits or limits any
opposition political activity, independent news reporting,
and certain activities of non-governmental organizations.
Imposition of the state of emergency has been justified as
necessary to maintain public order and security following
violence in downtown Yerevan on March 1. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The state of emergency was signed by President
Kocharian on the evening of March 1 (and ratified by
parliament later the same night),after GOAM security units
had evicted demonstrators from Freedom Square. The state of
emergency order applies only in the capital, notwithstanding
one report which had suggested that it might be expanded to
cover the regions as well. The MFA confirmed to us that the
edict is limited to the capital, and knew of no plans to
expand the scope. Complete text of the decree is at
paragraph 6.


3. (SBU) Kocharian justified the imposition of a state of
emergency as necessary to maintain public order in the face
of violent demonstrations. The GOAM has claimed that the
opposition had showed no willingness to submit to calls for
peaceful gatherings, and continued to display aggression and
initiated acts of violence and vandalism.

WHAT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY ENTAILS
--------------


4. (SBU) The state of emergency is scheduled to last until
March 20, though a March 1 press release from the MFA says it
could be extended. Conversely, President Kocharian told the
diplomatic corps March 2 he hoped to lift the state of
emergency earlier if events warrant. Under the state of
emergency, public rallies and demonstrations are prohibited,
as are strikes. Police have been aggressively dispersing any
group of pedestrians larger than about three or four, and
pedestrians and vehicles are subject to random search. The
GOAM reserves the right to restrict movement of individuals
The decree also bans distribution of leaflets, suspends
activities of opposition political parties, authorizes the
government to expel from Yerevan any non-residents it
chooses, and restricts media reporting to that from official
sources. Soldiers and police are posted throughout the city
and on many roads, pulling over motorists for inspection.
Last week, even before the state of emergency, police were
already restricting access to Yerevan on the four major roads
coming into the city.


5. (SBU) Elaboration on one point - the ban on public
gatherings and demonstrations - was provided on March 2 by
the Armed Forces Chief, Colonel-General Seyran Ohanyan. In a
televised address to the nation he warned that his troops
would react with severe authority at the "slightest" sign of
public display of non-sanctioned gatherings. "I would like to
warn all citizens that any attempt to organize or participate
in events prohibited under the state of emergency would be
adequately and strictly countered by the Armed Forces of the
Republic of Armenia. In particular, I am asking you to
refrain from attempting to assemble in Yerevan even in small
groups," adding that the army would exercise a no-tolerance
policy against any discontent.


THE ANNOUNCEMENT
--------------


6. (U) Following is the translated text of the government's
state of emergency announcement:

"In Order to prevent the threat to the constitutional order
in the Republic of Armenia and for the purpose of protecting
the rights and legal interests of the population, guided by
Point 14 of Article 55 and Point 6 of Article 117 of the
Republic of Armenia Constitution, I decide:


1. To declare a state of emergency from March 1 to March 20,
2008 in the city of Yerevan

2. To reserve the leadership of the removal of circumstances
serving as a basis for declaring the state of emergency and
regulation and realization of other urgent issues to the
President of the Republic of Armenia.


3. To reserve the legal provision of the regime of special
rule to the Police of the Republic of Armenia subject to the
Government of the Republic of Armenia and to the Ministry of
Defense of the Republic of Armenia;

YEREVAN 00000187 002.2 OF 002




4. To establish the following temporary restrictions in the
territory declared to be under the state of emergency:

a) prohibition of meetings, rallies, demonstrations,
processions and other mass events;

b) prohibition of strikes and other events or actions that
would hinder or stop the activities of organizations;

c) if necessary, restriction by law-enforcement bodies of the
movement of individuals, means of transportation and
implementation of inspection;

d) limitation of the reporting and coverage concerning the
state and internal political issues by the means of mass
media exclusively within the framework of the official press
releases of the state bodies;

e) prohibition of dissemination of news flyers and other
types of political propaganda without the permission of the
corresponding state bodies;

f) temporary suspension of the activities of political
parties and other nongovernmental organizations obstructing
the removal of the circumstances serving as a basis for the
declaration of the state of emergency.

g) Explusion of indivisuals who break the regime of the state
of emergency and not residing in a given territory at the
expense of their means, and if they don't have means - at the
expense of the means of the Republic of Armenia state budget
on the condition of teh further return of the expenses made.


5. The Government of the Republic of Armenia must undertake
the required measures for ensuring the accomplishment of the
present decree.


6. The present decree enters into force from the moment of
the announcement.
PENNINGTON