YEREVAN.- The state has no right to ban the opposition rallies, as it cannot use force, Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan said.

“The right of organizers and participants of the rally is to express political discontent to a certain process. There is no other goal,” he said.

Asked what measures the police may take if demonstrators continue to disobey police appeals, Minster said in such cases a clear legislative wording is used: “No one can disobey the police order. A person must comply with the demand of police officer and only then challenge his actions.”

Responding to a question whether the possibility of provocations at Raffi Hovannisian’s rallies is excluded, Tovmasyan said that no one can rule this out.

“We live in a difficult period for our country, but I am confident that the police should do whatever is necessary to avoid such a situation,” he emphasized.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am