PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
7 Vazgen Sargsian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.00.03, 27.16.00 (temporary)
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46 (temporary)
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:
December 18, 2006
The Subsequent Authority-Commanded Roadblock Placed Against Raffi
Hovannisian’s Public Meetings
Yerevan — On December 16, the Abelian State Dramatic Theater of the
town of Vanadzor was to become the venue for the civil gathering
between the town’s residents and the Heritage Party founder Raffi
K. Hovannisian. However, despite the prearrangement that was reached
with respect to the renting of the premises, the theater’s management
refused to allocate the space. To "justify," it initially argued that
they were awaiting the arrival of the Sundukian Dramatic Theater’s
cast from Yerevan. Subsequently, it claimed that the theater’s stage
was in the process of renovation, and finally contended that its hall
lacked electricity.
These "excuses," however, did not discourage the Vanadzor locals
as they assembled around the nearby square, and an impromptu
citizens’ meeting followed with Heritage board chairman Vardan
Khachatrian. Answering to the people’s numerous questions, Khachatrian
specifically elucidated as to why the authorities are attempting by
every means to hinder Raffi Hovannisian’s public contacts. "Whether
or not the theater’s assistant director Hovhannes Azizbekyan keeps
his word with regard to allocating the hall, Raffi Hovannisian,
nonetheless, will fulfill his right as a citizen of Armenia, and
will speak–either in Vanadzor or anywhere else in the country–with
the people in a noble and honest manner," Khachatrian assured those
present.
This episode comes to refute once again the deceitful and hypocritical
assertions made by the ruling powers that all Armenian political
figures, supposedly, enjoy equal conditions and rights. What is more,
the presidentially-conceived "black list" wholly forbids access for
Heritage’s founder to the television media, both state and private,
which all are under strict supervision and vertical control.
There can only be one explanation for such actions of the authorities:
the incumbent regime is in deep fear against its own people, and can
no longer look at the truth in the eye.
Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the
land. Its central headquarters are located at 7 Vazgen Sargsian Street,
Yerevan 0010, Armenia, with telephone contact at (374-10) 580.877,
fax at (374-10) 543.897, email at [email protected], and website at