VIDEO: I have only greeted 3 out of 872 witnesses - Kocharian

An emergency state has been declared in Yerevan, which occupies only 2 percent of the territory of Armenia. Therefore, how could constitutional norms cease to operate throughout Armenia? This was stated today, May 16, by former President of Armenia Robert Kocharian at the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction.

"In Yerevan, a state of emergency was declared for 20 days from March 1, 2008. There are 1,002 settlements in Armenia, with Yerevan being one of them. An emergency state has been declared in Yerevan, which occupies only 2 percent of Armenia's territory, so now a question arises: how could constitutional norms cease to operate throughout the entire country? Can anyone explain this to me? I don't understand," he emphasized.

Kocharian also addressed the restrictions on freedom of speech during that period. "Of the 32 television companies operating in Armenia at that time, only 9 were subject to restrictions; the rest operated without any limitations. There were several dozen newspapers in Yerevan, including regional ones, and none of their activities were restricted, nor could they have been. There were also no restrictions on the internet, which means that the restrictions on freedom of speech operated only in one of Armenia's 1,002 settlements," he said.

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