The main court announced yesterday the progress of the investigation into the civic unrest that occurred on June 12. The government’s numerous violations of the law have been reported, leading to various law-breaking acts during the unrest. The announcement made on June 12 was not only a response to the use of force and media interference but also a speech by the head of the government who supported the violent actions in an attempt to suppress, control, and intimidate.

“All the gathered facts predominantly point towards the authorities’ actions that defy the country’s laws. First, the violence initiated with the authorities’ use of force, which is prohibited by law. Second, since 17:30 on June 12, the authorities have been committing violence against demonstrators, specifically targeting individuals. Third, there have been reports of authorities perpetrating violence against journalists during and after the protests,” stated Avetik Chalabyan, the coordinator of the “Civil Contract” movement, during a press conference.

The investigation is seeking criminal charges against individuals, referring to Articles 236, 441, and 450 of the Criminal Code. “The events that unfolded in Armenia on June 12, outside of a peaceful period, point directly to the government’s criminal actions, violation of civil society and citizens’ rights, all organized and orchestrated by the political administration. It involves the use of special measures such as manipulation, disinformation, and suppression of violence,” stated the announcement of the investigation.

During the press conference, Menoua Soghomonyan, one of the coordinators of the “Civil Contract” movement, also drew attention to the similarities between the events of March 1 and June 12, stating, “On March 1, there were 10 casualties, while fortunately, there were no casualties on June 12.” She also expressed her personal symbolism by “cutting” her wristband during the protest, emphasizing the importance of peaceful demonstrations. “It is challenging to trust someone’s words when they are intentionally distorted. My colleagues and journalists have noticed this manipulation of language, which serves the interests of monopoly media. The entire footage is not published.”

As a layperson, this is my interpretation. This situation indicates a decline in the country’s overall development, with protests resorting to primitive methods and tactics. For any rational person, it is evident that this is not a revolution but rather an intentional manipulation of language. On June 12, my family and I were among the first groups to protest, as anyone can testify. The difference between June 12 and March 1 is that we participated in both events, perhaps calling them demonstrations. In any case, both were protests against the authorities, one aimed at entering the government and the other aimed at protecting the authorities.