US citizen arrested in Armenia over opposition protests

Agence France Presse
April 24, 2004 Saturday

YEREVAN

Armenian prosecutors arrested a US citizen for taking part in
opposition rallies calling for a violent overthrowal of the existing
order, the prosecutor general’s press service said Friday.

Arthur Vardanyan, a former Armenian national who obtained US
citizenship in 2002, was also suspected of illegally crossing the
Armenian border using his Armenian passport, officials said.

According to prosecutors, Vardanyan was actively involved in
Armenia’s various political activities, particularly during last
year’s electoral period, and then took part in a massive wave of
protests demanding the resignation of President Robert Kocharyan.

The Armenian opposition says that Kocharyan rigged a run-off
presidential vote in March 2003 to secure a second term in office and
is demanding that he either organize a national referendum of
confidence in his rule or step down.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS