"ALTERNATIVE" HOLDS MEETING DESPITE YEREVAN MAYOR OFFICE’S REFUSAL TO
GIVE PERMISSION

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. "By displaying consistency and
stubborness, we must overcome the indifference reigning in Armenia
now. Today we have won a very important vistory," Nikol Pashinian,
member of the Alternative" social-political initiative stated at the
March 23 meeting organized by the initiative in Yerevan’s Freedom
Square. To recap, "Alternative" applied to Yerevan mayor’s office for
permission to hold a rally in Freedom Square on March 23. The mayor’s
office refused to give permission, explaining that a cultural event
will be held in the square on the same day. Members of "Alternative"
applied to court with the request to declare the decision of the
mayor’s office invalid. Nevertheless, the meeting took place in
Freedom Square, which was full of policemen, so the participants had
to hold the meeting not in the square center which was occupied by
various song and dance ensembles. Members of "Alternative" said that
they had been informed that the police will "meet" them in the
square. However, in the words of N. Pashinian, on seeing the meeting
participants, policemen receded. According to him, the authorities
commit many illegalities, which "are subjected to legal-political
analysis and turned into arguments against the current authorities."
"We will use these illegalities against them. The fact that we apply
to various instances is not a sign of our weakness. We must present
these facts to the public," N. Pashinian stated at the meeting in
which about 1,000 people took part.