Tigran Avinyan, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia and recently elected Deputy Mayor of Yerevan, also has seen the footage of the use of force by the police at Yerablur military pantheon. Avinyan informed about this in a briefing with reporters after Friday’s special session of the Yerevan Council of Elders.

"I don't feel good about it, and I know that an internal investigation is being carried out at the police. I hope that those who are guilty will be punished," he added.

When asked if the police had acted in such a way without instructions, he answered: "I cannot comment on who acted according to what order, but I know that there is an internal investigation, and I will wait for its completion."

As for the demand for the police chief's resignation, Avinyan said. “Various small groups may have various demands. I believe that most of what happened is a negative phenomenon, it is reprehensible, and there is an investigation that should clarify. An appropriate punishment is meted out to each and every misdemeanor or crime."

As reported earlier, ahead of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to Yerablur Military Pantheon on Wednesday, Armenia's Independence Day anniversary, police special forces had forcibly detained 37 people, most of whom are family members of fallen servicemen.

Subsequently, 35 NGOs issued a statement demanding the resignation of police chief Vahe Ghazaryan.