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Protests and Violence: The summers of 2015 and 2016 were distinguished by mass protests and unprecedented violence used by the Police. In the summer of 2015, a water cannon was used against peaceful protesters during the Electric Yerevan protests. And on July 29 of 2016, during the police base takeover period, the police used special means injuring both the peaceful protesters and the policemen. On July 29, the RA Police used 56 stun grenades (most of which produced shrapnel wounds) only in Sari Tagh district of Yerevan. Most of the grenades were used in violation of the order established by the RA Minister of Health. On that day only, 60 citizens were hospitalized, 5 out of whom had burns and 22 had bone fractures. Besides, during the police base takeover and the protests that followed, unprecedented violence was used by plainclothes. Some episodes of the events that took place in July (particularly, violence used against the journalists and protestors, illegal arrests) reminded of March 1 of 2008 and were strongly criticized by international organizations dealing with human rights protection.
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