The rally held by the Armenian national congress yesterday in front of Matenadaran can undoubtedly be considered the most powerful one ever organized since 2008. The rally was not only massive but also very impressive as the energy of the public was at its apex. As for the aim and the message of the rally, it was quite relevant to the present situation of Armenia. First Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan presented a 15-point demand to government, the first of which called for the release of all those imprisoned for their political views and actions. If the government wants to start a political dialogue with the opposition, it should implement all the demands by March 15. The Armenian national congress will hold the next rally on March 17 and will inform what will be the opposition’s next actions if the demands aren’t met.
“From now on, rallies held by the Armenian National Congress are turning from current political actions into a sort of forum for the public’s self-rule, which will have the full authority to make decisions and put them into practice,” Ter-Petrosian said.
HAK coordinator Levon Zurabian also warned that Serzh Sargsyan will meet the fate of the recently deposed rulers of Egypt and Tunisia if he continues to oppose snap elections.
Also present at the protest was chairman of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian and parliament members Larisa Alaverdyan and Anahit Bashkhyan.
The demonstrators marched to the Miasnikian statue, the place of the clashes between opposition protesters and security forces on March 1, 2008. A candlelight vigil was held there earlier in the day.
