UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative (UN RC/UNDP RR) in Armenia Dafina Gercheva said that the UN condemns acts of violence against citizens.

Commenting on the March 3 rally dispersal in Yerevan near the Armenian government’s building, Gercheva told a press conference in Yerevan: “I believe that similar events should not take place. I am unaware of details of the incident, but think that it is necessary to listen to both sides to comment on similar incidents.”

At the same time Gercheva said that Yerevan authorities offered alternative solutions to tackle the problem related to the ban on street trading in the city, what means that Yerevan Mayor’s Office does not turn a blind eye on it.

Street traders, who were protesting against the decision of Yerevan Mayor’s Office to ban street trade for several weeks, planned to hold a protest action on March 3 in front of the Armenian government building. However, the governmental building was encircled by hundreds of policemen, who prevented rally participants from approaching the building. This has resulted in a clash among rally participants, members of Heritage parliamentary group and policemen.