Political analyst: Pashinyan was ready to order tougher measures against protesters

Political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan claims Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was ready to order tougher measures against protesters outside the Armenian parliament on June 12.

The violence erupted in the afternoon, resulting in injuries to 101 civilians and police officers. The latter used stun grenades and other forcible tactics against protesters, making around 100 arrests.

“Police officers with batons and shields fired 32 stun grenades at peaceful protesters,” the analyst wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

“Nikol was ready for much more. The deployment of special security forces outside the National Assembly was no accident. Among hundreds of officers, some 2-3 scumbags could have opened fire at the people. And that danger was real on June 12,” he stated.