Published since 07.2002
Published on July 04, 2008
UP AND ABOUT: OPPOSITION REACHES GYUMRI FOR ITS FIRST ‘AUTHORIZED’ RALLY AFTER POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE
- Thousands of Levon Ter-Petrosyan supporters braved rainy weather and government-imposed “working day” conditions to stage a rally in Armenia’s second largest city last weekend in what proved to be the first major gathering of the opposition outside Yerevan and its first major arrangement to be formally allowed by the authorities in months. The rally in Theater Square in Gyumri, which had been allowed by the city’s authorities to be held on June 28 and last for three hours, came only two days after the enactment of amendments to the law on public assembly lifting some of the severe restrictions on street protests and marches imposed in the wake of the March 1 melee. It also came at the end of a week during which Armenia was a focus of debate at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that reiterated its demand for “freedom of assembly to be guaranteed in practice” and urged the Armenian authorities “to allow rallies to be organized by the opposition without placing undue restrictions on them.” The rally started with an hour’s delay as only a few days before, that Saturday was declared a workday by the government. The decision was described by the opposition as a deliberate step to prevent the opposition from rallying on a non-working day. Besides, the opposition said first president Ter-Petrosyan’s travel was delayed by an outpouring of popular support that he met on his way to Gyumri, which is some 120 kilometers to the north-west of capital Yerevan. “After the elections, you proved that Gyumri is Armenia’s most politically active city,” the opposition leader said in addressing the rally. And prominent opposition member Suren Surenyants also commended the city: “During these months Gyumri has been special not only due to its freedom-loving people, but also as home of the republic’s only independent TV, Gala, and a club of journalists, Asparez, that is distinguished by its outstanding position.” The rally that had also brought together people from Yerevan, Talin, Vanatur and other towns lasted for an hour and a half and went on in a peaceful atmosphere with no tensions or incidents reproted. “As long as there is even one political prisoner in jail, we will not leave the streets and go home,” Ter-Petrosyan assured the families of detained opposition members that had turned out for the rally in large numbers. The opposition leader also extended his debate with the authorities over the March 1 clashes between security forces and protesters that led to at least ten deaths and hundreds of injuries. Ter-Petrosyan, in particular, said that neither police nor military had fired shots at the people. “Criminal elements and hired assassins have always been employed for such mean acts. Those elements were from different areas. And yes, some of them were from Karabakh, others were thuggish bodyguards of prominent oligarchs.” Ter-Petrosyan also said that ahead of its next rally in Yerevan on July 4 the opposition was completing organizational work on the establishment of the National Congress, an umbrella structure that would unite more than two dozen pro-opposition political parties and organizations. But before rallying in the capital, Ter-Petrosyan’s popular movement planned to visit Talin and Vanatur where it enjoys a high level of support among the local population.
- Ani Hakobyan
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Today in Armenian history- 1762 The first publication of Yeznik Koghbatsi's "Yeghts Aghandots" by the Markos Publishing House, in Smyrna.
- 1818 The inhabitants of Zeytoon (Western Armenia) rebel against the exactions of the Pasha of Marash.
- 1823 Birth of Grigor Aghatonyan in Constantinople. He died in 1868.
- 1839 Death of Papa Hambardzoomian, composer and author of Armenian phonographs.
- 1847 Death of Hakob Chelepi Tyoozian, the imperial goldsmith. The "Europe" periodical was published by his initiative. He was born on 1793 01 03.
- 1902 International Meeting of Patriots takes place in Brussels. French public-political figure Jean Jaures (amongst others) devotes his speech to the Armenian Cause.
- 1902 An International Conference on the Armenian Question takes place in Brussels.
- 1908 Death of Armenian writer Missak Metsarents. He was born in 1886.
- 1930 Birth of Mher Mkrtchyan (actor). He died in 1993.
- 1992 Artsakh forces leave Martakert (Artsakh).
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