Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks expressed serious concern about the use of force applied by the police to disperse peaceful protesters in Yerevan on Tuesday.

“The information I have received about instances of violence against journalists, their detention and damaging their equipment is also very disturbing. The media should be able to work in a safe and free environment.

I call on the Armenian authorities to respect their international human rights obligations, in particular with regard to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and to look into possible cases of abuse committed by the law enforcement forces during dispersal and detention,” the statement reads.