Arrival and Intrusion: We Are Here to Do Our Job, Says Central District Mayor

“Wait for a month and you will see what a fantastic place the Opera area will become this summer,” said Viktor Mnatsakanyan, the head of the Central administrative district, during a conversation with journalists on March 15. He emphasized, “We have come, we have intruded here, and we are doing our job.”

Journalists inquired about yesterday's incident when a police officer used force against a citizen, which led to the suspension of the officer's powers. “I am very sorry, I feel great pain. But do you know that the police are preparing materials under the hooliganism article, which means it was mutual? The police officer was fulfilling his duties, but we are human, right? Let’s not turn it into a domestic conversation, but everyone was writing to me saying ‘well done, how did you endure that,’ ‘patience to the mayor,’ but I am a human too, do you understand?” said Mr. Soghomonyan, adding that they have heard vile and abusive remarks directed at them in recent days.