ACTIONS OF AUTHORITIES DEEPEN DISTRUST OF PEOPLE, OPPOSITION DEPUTY SAYS

Noyan Tapan
March 18, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAn. Instead of creating an atmosphere of
dialog, civil accord, trust and tolerance, Armenian authorities are
taking actions that deepen the people’s distrust of the authorities,
which is especially not to the advantage of Serge Sragsian who is
preparing for his swearing-in ceremony, member of NA "Heritage"
faction Anahit Bakhshian stated in the parliament on March 18.

According to her, on the initiative of the majority representing
the political support of the prime minister, the National Assembly
yesterday "adopted an authorless law that deprived the society of
its constitutional right to freely express its indignation through
rallies and demonstrations."

On the same day another bill was discussed which, in the words of A.

Bakhshian, makes the first president of Armenia most vulnerable in
terms of protection. "In parallel with adoption of these laws, the
current prime minister is continuing to make statements about dialog
and civil accord," the member of "Heritage" said.

She reminded that during the February 26 rally in Republic Square the
prime minister stated that those holding rallies in Liberty Square were
"our sisters and brothers", while he is the president of everybody and
he called on the opposition to engage in dialog. However, according
to A. Bakhshian, instead of dialog, a beating of the "sisters and
brothers" participating in a rally of the oppostition candidate was
done, while later seven young men died as a result of clashes between
armed police and people who had no relation to the rally.